An immunohistochemical study of basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan (perlecan) in oral epithelial dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background:Basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan (perlecan) has been demonstrated in precancer lesions and carcinomas of oral cavity. It helps in malignant transformation of epithelial cells. The aim of our study was to understand the immuno-localization of perlecan in oral dysplastic epithelium and oral carcinomas.Materials and Methods:A total of 50 cases comprising 10 normal mucosa, 20 dysplastic mucosa, and 20 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) were included in the retrospective study. They were examined for the presence of perlecan protein core by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody. Interpretation of the pattern of staining was done, and majority of the observations were taken for statistical analysis.Results:In normal epithelium, perlecan was found to be present in basal layer at the cell border. In dysplastic epithelium, it was present in suprabasal layers also. With the increase in severity of dysplasia, its expression was more in suprabasal layers, and the immuno-localization was found to be at cell border and cytoplasm. In OSCC cases, perlecan was present in stroma and tumor islands.Conclusion:It was deduced from the above results that perlecan helps potentially in dysplastic changes of epithelial cells. It gets accumulated within the cell and intercellular spaces and serves as a reservoir for various growth factors. In OSCC, it breaks down and releases growth factors, which help in tumor progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis of the carcinoma.

Agrin and Perlecan Mediate Tumorigenic Processes in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…This molecule is present in all vascularized tissues with a distribution that is primarily confined to basement membranes [17] , [18] . Also, other studies have also identified perlecan in the stromal spaces of various pathophysiological conditions [19] – [21] .…”

Expression and Circulating Levels of Perlecan in Breast Cancer - Implications for Oestrogen Dependent Stromal Remodeling

“…In the breast cancer stroma, the perlecan expression became strong, while it was virtually absent from normal breast stroma. This phenomenon, with deposition of perlecan in the stroma, has been described in other tumours such as colon cancer and oral squamous cell cancer [33,34], and also in wound healing [35]. Perlecan is synthesised in the stroma by both myofibroblasts and cancer cells [36] and due to its proangiogenic properties [37], a high expression of perlecan in the stroma would support new capillary formation during tumour growth.…”

Histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings of odontogenic jaw cysts treated by decompression technique

“…For antigen retrieval, the deparaffinized sections were kept in staining trough filled with citric acid (2.94 g/L sodium citrate, pH 6.0) and were boiled in pressure cooker for 15 min followed by gradual cooling to 30°C. [ 13 ] The sections were rinsed in 0.01 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; 7.4). After that, sections were introduced to peroxide block for 10 min, followed by power block for 10 min, at room temperature in a humidifying chamber.…”