TWIST1 upregulation affects E-cadherin expression in brain metastases

Purpose E-cadherin is a calcium-dependent glycoprotein whose main role is cell–cell adhesion. Its transcriptional repressor TWIST1 is a basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) protein that participates in gastrulation and formation of mesodermal tissues during embryogenesis. In adult tissues, the high expression of TWIST1 induces the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)—a process in which cells become motile and able to metastasize. In this paper, we investigated the involvement of E-cadherin and TWIST1 in the carcinogenesis of brain metastases originating from two different primary sites—breast and lung. Methods The localization and expression of E-cadherin and its transcriptional repressor TWIST1 were investigated using a DAB-labeled streptavidin–horseradish peroxidase immunohistochemical reaction and specific monoclonal antibodies against TWIST1 and E-cadherin. Image J software was used for semi-quantitative analysis while H-score served for statistical evaluations. Results Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of E-cadherin was downregulated in 85.7% of brain metastases, while at the same time, 82.2% of them showed upregulated TWIST1. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant negative correlation between expressions of TWIST1 and E-cadherin (p = 0.001). When the brain metastases expression levels were compared to primary breast tumors in corresponding patients, E-cadherin showed higher expression in primary pairs compared to corresponding metastases. Consistent to its role, TWIST1 was downregulated in all primary tumor samples in comparison to corresponding metastases pairs (p = 0.034). Conclusion This research provides valuable data regarding molecular events involving two EMT key components that could give directions for new possibilities for brain metastases diagnosis and treatment (AU)

TWIST and p-Akt immunoexpression in normal oral epithelium, oral dysplasia and in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunoexpression of TWIST and p-Akt proteins in oralleukoplakia (OL) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), correlating their expressions with the histological features of the lesions. Study design: Immunohistochemical studies were carried out on 10 normal oral epithelium, 30 OL and 20 OSCC formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples. Immunoperoxidase reactions for TWIST and p-Akt proteins were applied on the specimens and the positivity of the reactions was calculated for 1000 epithelial cells. Results: Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s post tests revealed a significant difference in TWIST and p-Akt immune expression among normal oral mucosa, OL and OSCC. In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between TWIST and p-Akt expressions according to the Pearson’s correlation test. Conclusions: The results obtained in the current study suggest that TWIST and p-Akt may participate of the multistep process of oral carcinogenesis since its early stages (AU)

Varón de 3 años de edad con rasgos dismórficos y craneosinostosis: síndrome de Saethre-Chotzen / A three year old boy with dysmorphic and craniosynostosis traits: Saethre-Chotzen syndrome

Se comunica el caso de un niño con el síndrome de Saethre-Chotzen (acrocefalosindactilia de tipo III), una de las craneosinostosis más frecuentes, y se describe la mutación causal en el gen TWIST (AU)

It is informed of a child with the Saethre-Chotzen syndrome (acrocephalosyndactylia of type III), one of the most frequent craniosynostosis, and it is described as a causal mutation in the TWIST gene (AU)