Agrin and perlecan mediate tumorigenic processes in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Rebeca Kawahara, Daniela C. Granato, Carolina M. Carnielli, Nilva K. Cervigne, Carine E. Oliveria, César Rivera, Sami Yokoo, Felipe P. Fonseca, Marcio Lopes, Alan R. Santos-Silva, Edgard Graner, Ricardo D. Coletta, Adriana Franco Paes Leme

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48 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of cancer in the oral cavity, representing more than 90% of all oral cancers. The characterization of altered molecules in oral cancer is essential to understand molecular mechanisms underlying tumor progression as well as to contribute to cancer biomarker and therapeutic target discovery. Proteoglycans are key molecular effectors of cell surface and pericellular microenvironments, performing multiple functions in cancer. Two of the major basement membrane proteoglycans, agrin and perlecan, were investigated in this study regarding their role in oral cancer. Using real time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), we showed that agrin and perlecan are highly expressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Interestingly, cell lines originated from distinct sites showed different expression of agrin and perlecan. Enzymatically targeting chondroitin sulfate modification by chondroitinase, oral squamous carcinoma cell line had a reduced ability to adhere to extracellular matrix proteins and increased sensibility to cisplatin. Additionally, knockdown of agrin and perlecan promoted a decrease on cell migration and adhesion, and on resistance of cells to cisplatin. Our study showed, for the first time, a negative regulation on oral cancer-associated events by either targeting chondroitin sulfate content or agrin and perlecan levels.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere115004
Number of pages16
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume9
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Dec 2014
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2014. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

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