The interplay of EMT and stemness driving malignant transformation of Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a persistent oral mucosal condition that carries an elevated risk of undergoing malignant transformation. Our objective was to elucidate the involvement of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in OSF and its progression to malignancy by studying a p...

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Main Authors: Smitha Sammith Shetty, Mohit Sharma, Kanaka Sai Ram Padam, Adarsh Kudva, Pratik Patel, Raghu Radhakrishnan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-01-01
Series:Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212426823001446
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author Smitha Sammith Shetty
Mohit Sharma
Kanaka Sai Ram Padam
Adarsh Kudva
Pratik Patel
Raghu Radhakrishnan
author_facet Smitha Sammith Shetty
Mohit Sharma
Kanaka Sai Ram Padam
Adarsh Kudva
Pratik Patel
Raghu Radhakrishnan
author_sort Smitha Sammith Shetty
collection DOAJ
description Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a persistent oral mucosal condition that carries an elevated risk of undergoing malignant transformation. Our objective was to elucidate the involvement of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in OSF and its progression to malignancy by studying a panel of EMT markers, thereby understanding the molecular mechanisms. Methods: An immunohistochemical analysis was done to detect the presence of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, pan-cytokeratin (PanCK), vimentin, α-SMA (alpha-smooth muscle actin), and CD44 in a total of 100 tissue samples. These samples comprised 40 cases of OSF, 20 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma associated with OSF (OSFSCC), and 40 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). A whole transcriptomic analysis was performed on a group of seven matched samples encompassing NOM, OSF, OSFSCC, and OSCC. Results: We observed significantly decreased expression of E-cadherin and PanCK, while N-cadherin, vimentin, α-SMA, and CD44 showed significantly higher expression in OSFSCC and OSCC as compared to OSF, both at protein and RNA levels. CD44 expression was noticeably higher in OSFSCC (p < 0.001) than in OSCC. Conclusion: Downregulation of epithelial markers with concomitant upregulation of mesenchymal and stem cell markers suggests the potential role of EMT and stemness in accelerating the pathogenesis and malignant transformation of OSF. The high levels of CD44 expression seen in OSFSCC indicate a high propensity for aggressiveness and acquisition of stem-like characteristics by the cells undergoing EMT.
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spelling doaj-art-47da1c2c6b9d45e1b85304ae6986c5bc2024-11-23T06:30:34ZengElsevierJournal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research2212-42682024-01-011416371The interplay of EMT and stemness driving malignant transformation of Oral Submucous FibrosisSmitha Sammith Shetty0Mohit Sharma1Kanaka Sai Ram Padam2Adarsh Kudva3Pratik Patel4Raghu Radhakrishnan5Department of Oral Pathology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, IndiaDepartment of Oral Pathology, SGT Dental College Hospital &amp; Research Institute, Gurugram, Haryana, 122505, IndiaDepartment of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, IndiaSangee Oral Pathology Center, Haripura, Surat, Gujarat, 395003, IndiaDepartment of Oral Pathology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S102TA, UK; Corresponding author. Department of Oral Pathology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India.Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a persistent oral mucosal condition that carries an elevated risk of undergoing malignant transformation. Our objective was to elucidate the involvement of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in OSF and its progression to malignancy by studying a panel of EMT markers, thereby understanding the molecular mechanisms. Methods: An immunohistochemical analysis was done to detect the presence of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, pan-cytokeratin (PanCK), vimentin, α-SMA (alpha-smooth muscle actin), and CD44 in a total of 100 tissue samples. These samples comprised 40 cases of OSF, 20 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma associated with OSF (OSFSCC), and 40 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). A whole transcriptomic analysis was performed on a group of seven matched samples encompassing NOM, OSF, OSFSCC, and OSCC. Results: We observed significantly decreased expression of E-cadherin and PanCK, while N-cadherin, vimentin, α-SMA, and CD44 showed significantly higher expression in OSFSCC and OSCC as compared to OSF, both at protein and RNA levels. CD44 expression was noticeably higher in OSFSCC (p < 0.001) than in OSCC. Conclusion: Downregulation of epithelial markers with concomitant upregulation of mesenchymal and stem cell markers suggests the potential role of EMT and stemness in accelerating the pathogenesis and malignant transformation of OSF. The high levels of CD44 expression seen in OSFSCC indicate a high propensity for aggressiveness and acquisition of stem-like characteristics by the cells undergoing EMT.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212426823001446Oral submucous fibrosisOral squamous cell carcinomaEpithelial to mesenchymal transitionMalignant transformationStemness
spellingShingle Smitha Sammith Shetty
Mohit Sharma
Kanaka Sai Ram Padam
Adarsh Kudva
Pratik Patel
Raghu Radhakrishnan
The interplay of EMT and stemness driving malignant transformation of Oral Submucous Fibrosis
Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research
Oral submucous fibrosis
Oral squamous cell carcinoma
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition
Malignant transformation
Stemness
title The interplay of EMT and stemness driving malignant transformation of Oral Submucous Fibrosis
title_full The interplay of EMT and stemness driving malignant transformation of Oral Submucous Fibrosis
title_fullStr The interplay of EMT and stemness driving malignant transformation of Oral Submucous Fibrosis
title_full_unstemmed The interplay of EMT and stemness driving malignant transformation of Oral Submucous Fibrosis
title_short The interplay of EMT and stemness driving malignant transformation of Oral Submucous Fibrosis
title_sort interplay of emt and stemness driving malignant transformation of oral submucous fibrosis
topic Oral submucous fibrosis
Oral squamous cell carcinoma
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition
Malignant transformation
Stemness
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212426823001446
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