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Exploratory Study on the Role of ILK in the Biological Behavior of Ameloblastoma
Ling Bi1,2, Jin Wang3, Bo Wang4
1Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
Introduction:
Ameloblastoma (AM) is a jaw tumor characterized by local invasiveness and a high recurrence rate. Integrin-linked Kinase (ILK) is an important signaling effector proposed as a promising target for cancer therapy. However, its specific role in AM remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of ILK in the biological behavior of AM.
Methods:
ILK expression in AM was examined by Immunohistochemistry (IHC). The GSE132472 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to analyze microarray data from AM patient tissues. Gene sets and pathways associated with ILK, as well as differentially expressed genes enriched in AM, were identified. The effects of the ILK inhibitor Cpd22 on AM cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration were assessed.
Results:
AM tissues exhibited elevated ILK and integrin β1 expression and decreased E-cadherin expression, along with a trend towards the upregulation of ILK at the transcriptional level. Gene sets directly or indirectly related to ILK, including EMT, Extracellular Matrix (ECM) organization, integrin signaling, and focal adhesion, were closely associated with AM, while the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was the most significantly upregulated in AM. Differentially expressed genes enriched in these pathways were involved in cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and cytoskeletal regulation. In vitro experiments showed that Cpd22 significantly inhibited the adhesion and migration of AM cells.
Discussion:
The study's findings reveal an inverse correlation between ILK and Ecadherin expression intensity in AM, consistent with observations in other malignancies. ILK may contribute to AM pathogenesis through coordinated interactions with focal adhesions, integrins, and the ECM. It is also involved in AM cell adhesion and migration without affecting proliferation and may also participate in Akt phosphorylation and cytoskeletal regulation in AM cells.
Conclusion:
The study's findings indicate that ILK plays a role in modulating the biological behavior of AM.
