Stromal laminin chain distribution in normal, hyperplastic and malignant oral mucosa: relation to myofibroblast occurrence and vessel formation

• Published in: Journal of oral pathology & medicine 2010-04, Vol.39 (4), p.290-298
• Main Authors: Franz, Marcus, Wolheim, Anke, Richter, Petra, Umbreit, Claudia, Dahse, Regine, Driemel, Oliver, Hyckel, Peter, Virtanen, Ismo, Kosmehl, Hartwig, Berndt, Alexander
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actins - analysis; Basement Membrane - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - pathology; Connective Tissue - blood supply; Connective Tissue - pathology; Dentistry; Endothelial Cells - pathology; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; Fibroblasts - pathology; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Hyperplasia; Laminin - analysis; laminin chains; Medical sciences; Mouth Mucosa - blood supply; Mouth Mucosa - pathology; Mouth Neoplasms - blood supply; Mouth Neoplasms - pathology; Neovascularization, Pathologic - pathology; OSCC; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - analysis; tumour stroma; Up-Regulation; vessels
• ISSN: 0904-2512; 1600-0714
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2009.00840.x

J Oral Pathol Med (2010) 39: 290–298 Background:  The contribution of stromal laminin chain expression to malignant potential, tumour stroma reorganization and vessel formation in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is not fully understood. Therefore, the expression of the laminin chains α2, α3, α4, α5 and γ2 in the stromal compartment/vascular structures in OSCC was analysed. Methods:  Frozen tissue of OSCC (9× G1, 24× G2, 8× G3) and normal (2×)/hyperplastic (11×) oral mucosa was subjected to laminin chain and α‐smooth muscle actin (ASMA) immunohistochemistry. Results were correlated to tumour grade. The relation of laminin chain positive vessels to total vessel number was assessed by immunofluorescence double labelling with CD31. Results:  Stromal laminin α2 chain significantly decreases and α3, α4, α5 and γ2 chains and also ASMA significantly increase with rising grade. The amount of stromal α3, α4 and γ2 chains significantly increased with rising ASMA positivity. There is a significant decrease in α3 chain positive vessels with neoplastic transformation. Conclusions:  Mediated by myofibroblasts, OSCC development is associated with a stromal up‐regulation of laminin isoforms possibly contributing to a migration promoting microenvironment. A vascular basement membrane reorganization concerning α3 and γ2 chain laminins during tumour angioneogenesis is suggested.