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Expression of β 2 ‐adrenergic receptor in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Shang Zheng Jun,
Liu Ke,
Liang De Feng
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2008.00691.x
Subject(s) - propranolol , receptor , cell culture , endocrinology , western blot , adrenergic receptor , medicine , metastasis , biology , cancer research , pathology , cancer , biochemistry , gene , genetics
Background: It has been speculated that chemokines and neurotransmitters might be involved in the organ‐specific development of metastases because cancer metastasis is similar to the regulation of migratory activity in leukocytes. Here, we aimed to examine the expression of β 2 ‐adrenergic receptor (β 2 ‐AR) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and to investigate its correlation with tumor development and metastasis. Methods: Expression of β 2 ‐AR was examined in 65 cases of OSCC specimens, 10 cases of normal oral mucosa, and two cell lines using immunohistochemistry, Western blot and RT‐PCR. The differences in β 2 ‐AR expression between various groups were evaluated using SPSS 13.0 Statistical Software. Cell proliferation assays were assayed by β‐adrenergic receptors agonists (norepinephrine) and antagonists (propranolol). Norepinephrine‐mediated cell migration was assayed in Matrigel‐coated chemotaxis chamber. Results: β 2 ‐AR was highly expressed on OSCC compared to normal controls. In OSCC, positive β 2 ‐AR expression was significantly correlated with cervical lymph node metastasis ( P = 0.001), age ( P = 0.003), tumor size ( P = 0.001) and clinical stage ( P = 0.001), but not with gender. RT‐PCR and Western blot also confirmed positive β 2 ‐AR expression in OSCC and TCa8113 cell line, and negative β 2 ‐AR expression in normal oral mucosa and ACC cell line. β‐adrenoreceptor agonist (norepinephrine) was a potent mitogen for TCa8113 and ACC cell lines, and completely inhibited by the selective antagonist of β‐adrenergic receptors (propranolol). Norepinephrine induced migratory activity of OSCC cells in a dose‐dependent manner. Conclusion: Increased expression of β 2 ‐AR may play an important role in the formation and metastasis of OSCC.