Cellular Distribution and Gene Expression Pattern of Metastasin (S100A4), Calgranulin A (S100A8), and Calgranulin B (S100A9) in Oral Lesions as Markers for Molecular Pathology

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to analyze cellular localization and expression levels of oncologic relevant members of the S100 family in common oral lesions.Biopsies of various oral lesions were analyzed. S100A4 showed a higher expression rate in leukoplakias and oral squamous cell carcinomas. Transcript levels of S100A8 and S100A9 were significantly decreased in malignant OSCCs. A correlation could be drawn between the expression levels of these genes and the pathological characteristics of the investigated lesions. S100A4, A8, and A9 proteins represent promising marker genes to evaluate the risk potential of suspicious oral lesions in molecular pathology.

KEYWORDS:

• Tumor markers
• Oral lesions
• Differential gene expression
• S100A genes
• Molecular pathology

Acknowledgments

This project and the authors JW, JR, JPA, NN and MW were supported by the German Research Foundation (KFO 208; JPA and NN TP1; JW, JR and MW TP10) and the Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn.

Author contributions

JR, DK, and JW were responsible for designing the concept and experiments and writing the manuscript. DK, JR, JPA, NN, and RP have contributed to the section analyzing relative gene expression of genes of interest. JR and DK have performed immunohistochemistry. MW, MM, and MF have contributed to the isolation and characterization of oral tissues. All authors had substantial contributions to the design of the work or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work. All authors were involved in drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content. All authors have approved the final version to be published and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.