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Published on: April 22, 2019
Sprouty 4 expression in human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis
Pei-Hsien Liao1, Fu-Hsiung Chuang1,2, Yen-Yun Wang1,3
1School of Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Background/Purpose:
Reviewing literature, sprouty 4 (SPRY4) has not been studied in human oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). The study aimed to examine SPRY4 expression in human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 95 OSCCs, 10 OPMDs with malignant transformation (MT), 17 OPMDs without MT, and six normal oral mucosa (NOM) samples were recruited for immunohistochemical staining; three OSCC tissues with normal tissue counterpart NOM were employed for Western blotting. Three human oral cancer cell lines (OCCLs), an oral precancer cell line (dysplastic oral keratinocyte, DOK), and a primary culture of normal oral keratinocytes (HOK) were used for Western blotting; OCCLs and HOK were employed for real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. OCCLs were evaluated in terms of proliferation, migration, and invasion assays.
Results:
SPRY4 protein expression was significantly increased in OSCCs compared with NOM. Protein and mRNA SPRY4 expression in OCCLs were significantly elevated compared with HOK. Significant increases in the degrees of proliferation, migration, and invasion were noted in OCCLs with SPRY4 siRNA transfection compared with those without transfection. SPRY4 protein level was increased in OPMD with MT compared to OPMD without MT. SPRY4 protein was significant increase in DOK in comparison with HOK. SPRY4 protein expression was significantly increased from NOM and OPMD without MT to OSCC. SPRY4 protein expression in OCCLs was significantly enhanced compared with DOK and HOK respectively.
Conclusion:
Our results indicate that SPRY4 expression is possibly involved in human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis.
Insights
Sprouty 4 (SPRY4) protein is elevated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and precancerous lesions, suggesting its role in oral cancer development. SPRY4 also enhances oral cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Sprouty 4 (SPRY4) has not been previously investigated in human oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).
- Understanding the role of SPRY4 in oral carcinogenesis is crucial for identifying potential therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of SPRY4 in human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis.
- To evaluate the functional role of SPRY4 in oral cancer cell behavior.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting were used to assess SPRY4 protein levels in OSCC tissues, oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), and normal oral mucosa (NOM).
- Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was employed to measure SPRY4 mRNA levels in oral cancer cell lines (OCCLs) and normal oral keratinocytes (HOK).
- Proliferation, migration, and invasion assays were performed on OCCLs with and without SPRY4 siRNA transfection.
Main Results:
- SPRY4 protein expression was significantly increased in OSCCs compared to NOM, and progressively elevated from NOM and OPMDs without malignant transformation (MT) to OSCC.
- SPRY4 protein and mRNA levels were significantly higher in OCCLs than in HOK, and also elevated in dysplastic oral keratinocyte (DOK) cells compared to HOK.
- SPRY4 knockdown using siRNA significantly reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion in OCCLs.
- SPRY4 protein levels were higher in OPMDs with MT than in OPMDs without MT.
Conclusions:
- SPRY4 expression is upregulated during human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis.
- SPRY4 plays a significant role in promoting the proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral cancer cells.
- SPRY4 represents a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
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