Exploring the Role of Wnt Ligands in Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the functions of 19 types of Wnt ligands during the process of osteogenic differentiation in human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs), with particular attention to WNT3A and WNT4. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression levels of 19 types of Wnt ligands were examined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time qPCR) during hPDLSCs osteogenic differentiation at 7, 10, and 14 days. Knockdown of WNT3A and WNT4 expression was achieved using adenovirus vectors, and conditioned medium derived from WNT3A and WNT4 overexpression plasmids was employed to investigate their roles in hPDLSCs osteogenesis. Osteogenic-specific genes were analyzed using real-time qPCR. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red S activities and staining were employed to assess hPDLSCs' osteogenic differentiation ability. RESULTS: During hPDLSCs osteogenic differentiation, the expression of 19 types of Wnt ligands varied, with WNT3A and WNT4 showing significant upregulation. Inhibiting WNT3A and WNT4 expression hindered hPDLSCs' osteogenic capacity. Conditioned medium of WNT3A promoted early osteogenic differentiation, while WNT4 facilitated late osteogenesis slightly. CONCLUSION: Wnt ligands, particularly WNT3A and WNT4, play an important role in hPDLSCs' osteogenic differentiation, highlighting their potential as promoters of osteogenesis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Given the challenging nature of alveolar bone regeneration, therapeutic strategies that target WNT3A and WNT4 signaling pathways offer promising opportunities. Additionally, innovative gene therapy approaches aimed at regulating of WNT3A and WNT4 expression hold potential for improving alveolar bone regeneration outcomes.

CDH4 inhibits ferroptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND: The cadherin-4 gene (CDH4), a member of the cadherin family genes, encodes R-cadherin (R-cad); however, the function of this gene in different types of cancer remains controversial. The function of CDH4 in OSCC (oral squamous cell carcinoma) is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We use the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to find the expression of CDH4 in OSCC is more than normal tissue. Our tissue samples also confirmed that CDH4 gene was highly expressed in OSCC. The related cell function assay detected that CDH4 promotes the ability of cell proliferation, migration, self-renewal and invasion. Cell staining experiment confirmed that the change of CDH4 expression would change the cell mortality. The western blot of GPX4 (glutathione-dependent peroxidase-4), GSH (reduced glutathione) test assay and MDA(Malondialdehyde) test assay show that the expression of CDH4 may resist the sensitivity of ferropotosis in OSCC. RESULTS: CDH4 was upregulated in OSCC samples and was correlation with poor survival of patients. High expression of CDH4 effectively promotes the proliferation, mobility of OSCC cells and reduce the sensitivity of OSCC cells to ferroptosis. CDH4 is positively correlated with EMT pathway genes, negatively correlated with fatty acid metabolism pathway genes and peroxisome pathway genes, and positively correlated with ferroptosis suppressor genes in OSCC. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that CDH4 may play a positive role in tumor progression and resistance ferroptosis and may be a potential therapeutic target for OSCC.

High expression of Notch2 drives tongue squamous cell carcinoma carcinogenesis.

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is one of the most common cancers in the oral cavity. Notch signaling is frequently dysregulated in cancer. However, the role of Notch2 in TSCC is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of abnormal expression of Notch2 in TSCC. The expression of Notch2 was tested in 47 pairs of tissues from tongue cancer and normal samples by using immunohistochemical staining. Tongue cancer cells were transfected with siRNA or plasmid. The proliferation of the cells was tested by the CCK8 assay and colony formation assay. Subcutaneous tumor model was established to observe tumor growth. Transwell assay was used to detect the changes of cell migration and invasion ability. A humanized anti-Notch2 antibody was used to TSCC cells. We found that Notch2 was upregulated in tongue carcinoma tissues. Knocking down the expression of Notch2 by siRNA in the TSCC cell lines decreased proliferation ability both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, migration and invasion abilities were inhibited by knockdown of Notch2 in the TSCC cells. However, overexpression of Notch2 increased tongue cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration. The humanized anti-Notch2 antibody inhibited TSCC cell growth. The results indicated that Notch2 is an oncogene in tongue squamous cell carcinoma and may become the target of a new approach for treating TSCC.

Effects of functional mandibular lateral shift on craniofacial growth and development in growing rats.

BACKGROUND: Unilateral posterior crossbite, one of the most frequent malocclusions, is often associated with functional lateral shift of the mandible. Although the effects of functional lateral shift on the mandible and temporomandibular joint have been examined in various animal experiments, cranial and maxillary changes have received less attention. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of functional lateral shift on the craniofacial complex in growing rats. METHODS: Eighty 5-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 40), which received an oblique guide appliance that shifted the mandible to the left during closure, and a control group (n = 40). The rats were scanned by cone-beam computed tomography at 3 days and 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The dimensions of the mandibular bone, condyle, maxilla and cranium were measured. RESULTS: The mandibles of rats in the experimental group were smaller than those of the rats in the control group and were asymmetrical. The condyles of the rats in the experimental group were thinner than those of the control rats. The condylar length on the ipsilateral side was shorter and wider than that on the contralateral side from 4 to 8 weeks. No significant differences in cranial length or height were observed between the experimental and control groups. The height of the upper first molar and alveolar bone on the contralateral side was significantly smaller than that on the ipsilateral side and in the controls from 4 to 8 weeks. CONCLUSION: Functional shift in the mandible produces morphological asymmetries in the mandible and maxillary region and may cause bilateral condylar degenerative changes.

Abnormal eruption of teeth in relation to FGFR1 heterozygote mutation: a rare case of osteoglophonic dysplasia with 4-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: We report a case and its 4-year follow-up of Osteoglophonic dysplasia (OD), a rare disease that disturbs both skeletal and dental development, which is usually caused by heterozygous FGFR1 mutations. CASE PRESENTATION: This article presents a case where a 6-year-old male patient suffered dysregulation of tooth eruption and was diagnosed with osteogenic dysplasia from a fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) heterozygote mutation. However, the number of teeth is within the normal range, and their roots are well developed. Several interventions were implemented with varying degrees of results. The details of the 4-year follow-up showed that the signs of OD were more pronounced, including dwarfism, frontal bossing, delayed skeletal maturation, anteverted nares, micrognathia, and prominent ears, but the patient's impacted teeth and edentulous jaws remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: FGFR1 heterozygote mutation and OD present significant difficulty for teeth eruption and subsequent intervention. Further measures ought to be taken in recognizing various symptoms presented by the patient. This case supports the significance of careful inquiry, comprehensive physical examination and correct diagnosis as indispensable steps for clinical practice in patients with unerupted teeth. Additionally, the detailed case and its 4-year follow-up length may provide new insights into osteogenic dysplasia and patients with impacted teeth while encouraging further exploration in treatment methods.

Elevated matrix metalloproteinase 7 expression promotes the proliferation, motility and metastasis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7), as the smallest member of the matrix metalloproteinase family, has been verified to be implicated in cancer progression, especially metastasis. However, its expression pattern and function in tongue cancer is not clear. METHODS: The expression of MMP7 in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) specimens compared with their respective paired nontumour tissues by real-time PCR and immunohistochemical staining. The effect of MMP7 on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion of tongue cancer cells was tested in appropriate ways after MMP7 siRNA knockdown or overexpression. The effect of MMP7 on lymph node metastasis in vivo was analyzed using a high-metastasis orthotopic nude mouse tongue transplanted tumour model. RESULTS: We found markedly elevated expression of MMP7 in human TSCC specimens compared with their respective paired nontumour tissues, and this high expression was correlated with the patients' lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, the results of molecular functional assays confirmed that MMP7 promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion of TSCC cells. Knockdown of MMP7 inhibited lymph nodes metastasis in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: MMP7 plays an oncogenic role in carcinogenesis and metastasis of tongue cancer, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for tongue cancer.

The oncogenic effects of HES1 on salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma cell growth and metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study demonstrated a close relationship between NOTCH signaling pathway and salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). HES1 is a well-known target gene of NOTCH signaling pathway. The purpose of the present study was to further explore the molecular mechanism of HES1 in SACC. METHODS: Comparative transcriptome analyses by RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) were employed to reveal NOTCH1 downstream gene in SACC cells. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of HES1 in clinical samples. After HES1-siRNA transfected into SACC LM cells, the cell proliferation and cell apoptosis were tested by suitable methods; animal model was established to detect the change of growth ability of tumor. Transwell and wound healing assays were used to evaluate cell metastasis and invasion. RESULTS: We found that HES1 was strongly linked to NOTCH signaling pathway in SACC cells. The immunohistochemical results implied the high expression of HES1 in cancerous tissues. The growth of SACC LM cells transfected with HES1-siRNAs was significantly suppressed in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo by inducing cell apoptosis. After HES1 expression was silenced, the SACC LM cell metastasis and invasion ability was suppressed. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that HES1 is a specific downstream gene of NOTCH1 and that it contributes to SACC proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis. Our findings serve as evidence indicating that HES1 may be useful as a clinical target in the treatment of SACC.

Notch2 signaling contributes to cell growth, invasion, and migration in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Many studies have explored whether the Notch signaling pathway has a tumor-suppressive or an oncogenic role in various tumors; however, the role of the Notch signaling pathway in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) is still unknown. In this study, we attempt to define the role of Notch2 signaling in cell growth, invasion, and migration in SACC. We compared Notch2 expression in clinical SACC samples with that of normal samples by using immunohistochemical staining. Then, we down-regulated Notch2 expression to observe the effect of Notch2 on proliferation, invasion, migration, and the expression of known target genes of Notch signal pathway. According to our results, Notch2 expression was higher in SACC tissues compared with normal tissues. Knockdown of Notch2 inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in vitro and down-regulated the expression of HEY2 and CCND1. The results of this study suggest that Notch2 has an essential role in the cell growth, invasion, and migration of SACC. Notch2 may therefore be a potential target gene for the treatment of SACC by interfering with cell growth and metastasis.

A 3-year follow-up clinical study on the preservation for vitality of involved tooth in jaw cysts through an innovative method.

Jaw cysts commonly affect the oral and maxillofacial region, involving adjacent tooth roots. The management of these teeth, particularly regarding root canal therapy and apicoectomy, lacks consensus. This study introduces a novel treatment concept and refined surgical approach to preserve pulp viability in teeth involved in jaw cysts. The objective was to investigate the effectiveness and potential benefits of this approach over a 36-month follow-up period. A conservative management approach prioritized vitality preservation, reserving root canal treatment and apicectomy for cases with post-operative discomfort. A comprehensive follow-up of 108 involved teeth from 36 jaw cyst cases treated with the modified method was conducted. Clinical observation, X-ray imaging, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and pulp vitality testing assessed changes in cyst size, tooth color, pulp vitality, root structure, and surrounding alveolar bone. After 36 months, our modified surgical approach successfully preserved tooth vitality in 84 involved teeth. Adverse symptoms in 19 teeth, such as redness, swelling, fistula, and pain, resolved with postoperative root canal therapy. Follow-up was lost for five teeth in two cases. No cyst recurrences were observed, and in 34 cases, the bone cavity gradually disappeared, restoring normal bone density during long-term follow-up. Our modified surgical method effectively preserves tooth vitality in jaw cysts. This innovative approach has the potential to improve the management of teeth involved in jaw cysts.

IL-8 activates fibroblasts to promote the invasion of HNSCC cells via STAT3-MMP1.

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) has an aberrant expression relevant to various behaviors of cancers. As dominant components of the tumor stroma, fibroblasts constitute an important source of Matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) including mainly MMP1. The impacts of MMP1 derived from fibroblasts in tumor microenvironment, however, is not well defined. In this study, we demonstrated a part of crosstalk between fibroblasts and cancer cells that enhanced the invasiveness of cancer cells, IL8-induced activation of STAT3 signaling pathway as a key promoter to elevated MMP1 level in fibroblasts that supports the migration and invasion of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells by extracellular matrix degradation. Importantly, once exposed to the inhibitor of STAT3 phosphorylation (TPCA-1), the enhanced induction of HNSCC cells invasion triggered by fibroblasts was significantly impaired.

The dynamic progression of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis-like lesions elicited by mandibular shift in a rat model.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) presents significant challenges due to its complex etiology, often insidious onset, high incidence, and progressive structural deterioration. While research has explored genetic and molecular factors, treatment outcomes remain suboptimal, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of disease progression. OBJECTIVE: This study employs a specific mandibular shift rat model to explore the dynamic progression of TMJ-OA-like lesions and evaluate the potential for self-repair at different stages, aiming to inform early diagnosis and preventative strategies. METHODS: Seventy-two female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups: a control group (n=24; average weight: 157.23±1.63 g) receiving sham surgery. an experimental group (n=24; average weight: 157.78±1.88 g) subjected to mandibular shift induction, and a removal group (n=24; average weight: 158.11±2.20 g) experiencing mandibular shift for one, two, or four weeks followed by a one-month recovery period (designated as 1w Removal, 2w Removal and 4w Removal, respectively). Histomorphological and molecular analyses were conducted at designated time points. RESULTS: Rats in the 1-week removal group exhibited substantial recovery in condylar morphology, cartilage thickness, extracellular matrix composition, and expression of OA-related genes. Conversely, the 4-week removal group mirrored the experimental group, indicating limited self-repair capacity at later stages. The 2-week removal group presented with variable outcomes, with some animals showing signs of recovery and others resembling the experimental group, indicating a potential transitional phase in the disease process. CONCLUSION: Recovery from early-stage TMJ-OA involves eliminating provoking factors such as occlusal interference or reducing joint loading. However, advanced stages exhibit diminished self-repair capabilities, necessitating additional therapeutic interventions. These findings emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in TMJ-OA management.

Experimental functional shift-induced osteoarthritis-like changes at the TMJ and altered integrin expression in a rat model.

Mandibular deviation affects the biomechanical environment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and causes thinning of cartilage on the deviated side. We aimed to evaluate, using a rat model, the effect of mandibular functional deviation on the TMJ in relation to the functional roles of integrin ß family members. The effects of experimental functional deviation on the TMJ of 6-week-old Sprague-Dawley female rats, randomly assigned to control (n = 42) and experimental groups (n = 42), were evaluated at 3 days and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks by histological staining, immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and micro-computed tomography. The results showed that the experimental functional shift changed the shape of condyles, thinned the cartilage, and increased the proportion of the hypertrophic layer on the deviated sides of condyles. In addition, the extracellular matrix of the condyle cartilage exhibited degradation at 1 week and subchondral trabecular bone was lost at 4 and 8 weeks. Osteoarthritis (OA)-like changes occurred in the left and right condyles of rats in the experimental group and were aggravated over time. Integrin ß family expression, especially integrin ß2 , was altered from week 1, possibly related to the OA-like changes. These data may provide insight into the onset of TMJ OA.

EGCG inhibits growth of tumoral lesions on lip and tongue of K-Ras transgenic mice through the Notch pathway.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main active ingredient of green tea, exhibits low toxic side effect and versatile bioactivities, and its anti-cancer effect has been extensively studied. Most of the studies used cancer cell lines and xenograft models. However, whether EGCG can prevent tumor onset after cancer-associated mutations occur is still controversial. In the present study, Krt14-cre/ERT-Kras transgenic mice were developed and the expression of K-RasG12D was induced by tamoxifen. Two weeks after induction, the K-Ras mutant mice developed exophytic tumoral lesions on the lips and tongues, with significant activation of Notch signaling pathway. Administration of EGCG effectively delayed the time of appearance, decreased the size and weight of tumoral lesions, relieved heterotypic hyperplasia of tumoral lesions, and prolonged the life of the mice. The Notch signaling pathway was significantly inhibited by EGCG in the tumoral lesions. Furthermore, EGCG significantly induced cell apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of tongue cancer cells by blocking the activation of Notch signaling pathway. Taken together, these results indicate EGCG as an effective chemotherapeutic agent for tongue cancer by targeting Notch pathway.

CDH11 Regulates Adhesion and Transcellular Migration of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: CDH11, as a member of cadherins, mediates homotypic cell adhesion. Some studies have shown that CDH11 plays an important role in the development of tumors, especially in the processes of tumor invasion and metastasis. While features of CDH11 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) are still indeterminate, the purpose of the present study is to explore the role of CDH11 in TSCC. METHODS: The expression of cadherin gene in a TSCC cell line with high metastatic potential (LN4) and the parental CAL27 were examined both in the TCGA database and in collected clinical samples, further verified by quantitative real-time PCR. The effects of CDH11 on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and adhesion were tested in appropriate ways after CDH11 was overexpressed in TSCC cells. RESULTS: Among the 22 cadherin genes, CDH11 was one of the most obviously inhibited genes in LN4 cells as compared with the parental cells. Overexpression of CDH11 did not show a significant effect on cell proliferation, apoptosis, stemness, migration and invasion ability of TSCC cells themselves, but it increased the adhesion of TSCC cells with human oral epithelial cells and decreased their ability to pass through human oral epithelial cells (HOECs) for migration. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that CDH11 plays as a tumor suppressor in tongue squamous cell carcinoma by inhibiting the invasion and migration of tongue cancer cells. CDH11 may serve as an effective clinical target for new tongue cancer treatments.

Synthesis, Antifungal Activity, and Cytotoxicity of AgBr-NP@CTMAB Hybrid and Its Application in PMMA.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize and determine the antifungal activity of AgBr-nanoparticles (NP) @CTMAB (cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide) against Candida albicans (C. albicans) for use in the field of denture cleaning. METHODS: The morphology and structure of AgBr-NP@CTMAB were characterized by IR, UV-Vis, XRD and SEM. The antifungal potential of AgBr-NP@CTMAB against C. albicans was determined by colony formation assay and growth curve analysis. PMMA containing AgBr-NP@CTMAB was prepared, and the long-term antifungal efficacy was analyzed. The effect against C. albicans biofilm was analyzed by SEM and OD600 , and the color changes of the specimens were observed by stereomicroscopy after 1 week of incubation. Cytotoxicity to human oral gingival fibroblasts and oral mucosal epithelial cells was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) in vitro. RESULTS: The compound showed a good crystalline phase, the presence of AgBr nanoparticles and the hybridization of CTMAB+ with AgBr-NPs. AgBr-NP@CTMAB showed significant antifungal activity against C. albicans at concentrations of 10 µg/mL and 20 µg/mL. PMMA specimens containing AgBr-NP@CTMAB showed no long-term antifungal effect against C. albicans biofilm. The clearance rate of C. albicans attached to PMMA was 44.73% after soaking in 10 µg/mL AgBr-NP@CTMAB solution for 30 min and 91.35% for 8 h. There was no significant residual cytotoxicity or visual color change after soaking. SIGNIFICANCE: AgBr-NP@CTMAB showed promising potential treatment for denture cleaners.

Roles of the Wnt Signaling Pathway in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most common type of head and neck tumor. It is a high incidence malignant tumor associated with a low survival rate and limited treatment options. Accumulating conclusions indicate that the Wnt signaling pathway plays a vital role in the pathobiological process of HNSCC. The canonical Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway affects a variety of cellular progression, enabling tumor cells to maintain and further promote the immature stem-like phenotype, proliferate, prolong survival, and gain invasiveness. Genomic studies of head and neck tumors have shown that although ß-catenin is not frequently mutated in HNSCC, its activity is not inhibited by mutations in upstream gene encoding ß-catenin, NOTCH1, FAT1, and AJUBA. Genetic defects affect the components of the Wnt pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate inhibitors of the Wnt pathway. This paper aims to summarize the groundbreaking discoveries and recent advances involving the Wnt signaling pathway and highlight the relevance of this pathway in head and neck squamous cell cancer, which will help provide new insights into improving the treatment of human HNSCC by interfering with the transcriptional signaling of Wnt.

The NOTCH1-HEY1 pathway regulates self-renewal and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma cells.

Our previous study demonstrated a close relationship between the NOTCH signaling pathway and salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). Its receptor gene, NOTCH1, and its downstream gene, HES1, contribute to the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of SACC. Accumulating evidence supports HEY1 as another effector of the signaling pathway. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of the NOTCH1-HEY1 pathway on the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of SACC cells. Our results verified that HEY1 is a specific molecular target of the NOTCH signaling pathway in SACC cells and that its expression in carcinoma is much higher than that in paracarcinoma tissues. The expression of NOTCH1 and HEY1 are positively correlated in the salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma tissues. NOTCH1 is significantly related to the activation of HEY1 in SACC, and that HEY1 reciprocally regulates NOTCH1 expression in SACC. HEY1 promotes cell proliferation and spheroid formation and inhibits cell apoptosis in vitro. In addition, HEY1 enhances the tumorigenicity of SACC in vivo. Furthermore, HEY1 increases cell invasion and metastasis by driving the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes and MMPs. The results of this study indicate that the NOTCH1-HEY1 pathway is specifically upregulated in SACC and promotes cell proliferation, self-renewal, invasion, metastasis and the expression of EMT-related genes and MMPs. Our findings suggest that a NOTCH1-HEY1 pathway inhibitor might therefore have potential therapeutic applications in treating SACC patients by inhibiting cancer cell growth and metastasis.

FZD2 regulates cell proliferation and invasion in tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Many studies have shown that FZD2 is significantly associated with tumor development and tumor metastasis. The purpose of the present study was to gain insight into the role of FZD2 in the cell proliferation and invasion of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. According to TCGA-HNSC dataset, among the 10 Frizzled receptors, FZD2 exhibited the highest degree of differential expression between cancer tissues and normal tissues, and the overall survival of patients with higher FZD2 levels was shown to be significantly shorter compared with those with lower FZD2 levels. The upregulation of FZD2 in clinical tongue cancer tissues was validated by real-time PCR. Knockdown of FZD2 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of CAL-27 and TCA-8113 cells, whereas overexpression of FZD2 led to the opposite results. Further analysis revealed that FZD2 is positively correlated with WNT3A, WNT5B, WNT7A and WNT2 and is negatively correlated with WNT4. These results indicated that FZD2 may act as an oncogene in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, FZD2 may be a target for the diagnosis, prognosis and gene therapy of tongue cancer.

FLI-06 Intercepts Notch Signaling And Suppresses The Proliferation And Self-renewal Of Tongue Cancer Cells.

PURPOSE: The Notch signaling pathway plays an oncogenic role in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to inhibit the proliferation and self-renewal of tongue cancer cells by applying Notch signaling pathway inhibitor FLI-06 (Selleck, USA) and to lay a foundation for the clinically targeted treatment of tongue cancer for the future. METHODS: The mRNA expression level of Notch1 and the overall survival rate of patients with tongue cancer were examined by analyzing the TCGA database. Tongue cancer cells were treated with FLI-06. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and stem cell self-renewal ability were tested in appropriate ways. A xenograft mouse model was established to observe tumor growth. RESULTS: From the TCGA data, we demonstrated that patients with high expression of Notch1 had a poor prognosis. We observed that the Notch signaling pathway inhibitor FLI-06 can restrain the activation of the Notch signaling pathway, decrease cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in vitro. The xenograft experiment indicated that intraperitoneal injection of FLI-06 inhibited tumor growth and increased cell apoptosis. FLI-06 suppressed both the mRNA and protein expression of Notch receptor and Notch targeted genes. We also observed that FLI-06 suppressed the proliferation of tongue cancer stem cells. CONCLUSION: FLI-06 can block the proliferation and self-renewal of tongue cancer cells. It is inferred that this compound, which inhibits the Notch signaling pathway, may serve as a potential targeted drug for the treatment of tongue cancer in the clinic.

Notch1 regulates tongue cancer cells proliferation, apoptosis and invasion.

OBJECTIVES: Notch1 regulates tumor biology in a complex, context-dependent manner. The roles of Notch1 in tongue cancer are still controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate the roles of Notch1 in tongue cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of Notch1 was tested between tongue cancer and normal samples by using immunohistochemistry. Tongue cancer cells were transfected with siRNA or plasmid, respectively. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion ability were tested in appropriate ways. The subcutaneous tumor model was established to observe the tumor growth. RESULTS: Notch1 was upregulated in tongue carcinoma tissues and the expression of Notch1 was related with tumor stage and differentiation. Overexpression of Notch1 could increase tongue cancer cells proliferation, invasion and migration. But inhibited the expression of Notch1 could decrease cells proliferation, invasion and migration and promote cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our results prove that the oncogenic role of Notch1 in tongue cancer and provide the direction of targeted therapy of tongue cancer.