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Published on: January 21, 2019
The immunohistochemical aspects of protein Mena in cervical lesions
Simona Gurzu1, I Jung, I Prantner
1Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures, Romania. simonagurzu@yahoo.com
Unlabelled:
The proteins Ena/VASP (Enabled/Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein) family is involved in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton which activity is very important for physiological tissue formation but is sometimes implied in pathological processes. In this study, we analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of Mammalian Ena (Mena), which is a member of this family, in the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and also in the cervical squamous cell carcinomas. We analyzed 30 cases with CIN (1, 2 and 3), and 10 squamous carcinomas. We used the EnVision system by LabVision. The Mena antibody, izotype mouse IgA, clone 21, provided by BD Biosciences.
Results:
We observed that Mena was not expressed in the normal cervical squamous epithelium but its expression was increased in parallel with the increasing grade of CIN, with up-regulation upon transition to CIN3 and further to invasive carcinoma. This is the first study in the literature about Mena expression in cervical lesions.
Insights
Mammalian Enabled (Mena) protein is not found in normal cervical tissue but increases with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade, indicating its role in cervical cancer progression.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The Ena/VASP protein family regulates actin cytoskeleton dynamics, crucial for tissue formation and implicated in disease.
- Mammalian Enabled (Mena) is a key member of the Ena/VASP family.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of Mena in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical squamous cell carcinomas.
- To determine the correlation between Mena expression and the progression of cervical lesions.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of Mena expression using a specific antibody (clone 21, BD Biosciences).
- Evaluation of 30 CIN cases (grades 1, 2, and 3) and 10 cervical squamous cell carcinoma cases.
- Utilized the EnVision system for antibody detection.
Main Results:
- Mena expression was absent in normal cervical squamous epithelium.
- Mena expression significantly increased with the grade of CIN.
- Upregulation of Mena was observed from CIN3 to invasive cervical squamous cell carcinoma.
Conclusions:
- Mena expression is a potential biomarker for cervical lesion progression.
- This study provides the first evidence of Mena expression in cervical lesions.
- Mena's role in actin cytoskeleton regulation may contribute to cervical carcinogenesis.
