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Updated: Aug 19, 2026
Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-β-induced Invasion
Published on: November 16, 2011
Immunohistochemical evaluation of TGF-beta and extracellular matrix proteins expression in rat squamous cell
A K Poulopoulos1, I G Kayavis, P Papanayotou
1Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology, Dental School of Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to establish a possible association between the degree of differentiation of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) derived from rat oral tissues treated in vivo with carcinogen 4NQO, and the expression of TGF-beta on epithelial cells and the distribution of extracellular matrix proteins (laminin-collagen type IV).
Materials And Methods:
A parent tumor showing a spectrum of differentiation was used to establish clonal subpopulations that formed differentiated SCC and undifferentiated (spindle cell phenotype) tumours following transplantation to athymic mice.
Results:
Immunohistological findings revealed the absence of TGF-beta staining on epithelial cells and extracellular matrix proteins in spindle cell tumours. In contrast, staining of SCC revealed a significant number of TGF-beta positive cells and the presence of extracellular matrix proteins.
Conclusions:
The findings suggested that there is a positive correlation between histological differentiation, TGF-beta expression and the elaboration of extracellular matrix proteins.
