Premium
Relationship between micro RNA expression levels and histopathological features of dysplasia in oral leukoplakia
Author(s) -
Brito João A. R.,
Gomes Carolina C.,
Guimarães André L. S.,
Campos Kelma,
Gomez Ricardo S.
Publication year - 2014
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/jop.12112
Subject(s) - oral leukoplakia , microrna , pathology , dysplasia , oral mucosa , cancer , leukoplakia , epithelial dysplasia , basal cell , biology , immunohistochemistry , medicine , gene , genetics
Background Increased expression of micro RNA s (mi RNA s), mi R ‐21, mi R ‐345, and mi R ‐181b has been demonstrated in oral leukoplakia ( OL ) that progresses to oral squamous cell carcinoma ( OSCC ), suggesting a mi RNA signature with potential prognostic value. On the basis of these findings, this pilot study aimed to investigate the cytological and histopathological features that are used to grade oral dysplasia and determine associations with the expression of these 3 potentially cancer‐related mi RNA s. We also compared the expression levels of these mi RNA s in OL with normal oral mucosa and OSCC . Methods We evaluated mi RNA expression by q PCR in 22 samples of OL demonstrating different grades of dysplasia, as well as 17 cases of OSCC , and 6 samples of normal oral mucosa. We associated the mi RNA s expression profiles with cytological and histopathological features of OL . Results OSCC cases showed increased expression of all 3 mi RNA s when compared with OL and normal oral mucosa. Increased expression of mi R ‐21 was also observed in OL when compared with normal oral mucosa. We found a higher expression of mi R ‐21 and mi R ‐181b in OL that presented with an increased number of mitotic figures, increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, or hyperchromasia. Increased expression of mi R ‐21 was also detected in OL with abnormally superficial mitosis. Higher expression of miR‐345 was observed in OL with an increased number and size of nucleoli or increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. Conclusions In conclusion, the present study shows that some cytological and histopathological parameters used to grade dysplasia are associated with altered mi RNA expression.