Expression of Inflammasome-Associated Proteins in Human Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Expression of Inflammasome-Associated Proteins in Human Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Adv Otorhinolaryngol. 2016 Apr 26;77:98-104 Authors: Takano K, Kondo A, Kurose M, Yamashita K, Nomura K, Obata K, Murayama K, Ito F, Himi T Abstract Inflammasomes, large protein complexes typically consisting of a Nod-like receptor (NLR), adapter protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC) and caspase-1, are postulated to be activated in response to danger signals arising from tumors. Inflammasomes are thought to have critical but contrasting roles through facilitating antitumor immunity and inducing oncogenic factors. However, the role and function of inflammasomes in oropharyngeal carcinoma remain unclear. We analyzed nine specimens of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and determined the expression of NLRP3, ASC, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18 and caspase-1 in the specimens with and without human papilloma virus (HPV) infection using immunohistochemistry, and analyzed the correlations between the altered expression of these proteins and clinicopathological factors of oropharyngeal SCC. We found strong expression of NLRP3, ASC, IL-1β, IL-18 and caspase-1 in human oropharyngeal SCC and weak or no expression of these proteins in normal tonsils. Furthermore, the distribution of mindbomb E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 and inflammasome-associated proteins in oropharyngeal SCC was not significantly different; the...
Source: Advances in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Category: ENT & OMF Tags: Adv Otorhinolaryngol Source Type: research