Immunohistochemistry profile of p75 neurotrophin receptor in oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide in rats

Publication date: Available online 22 September 2018

Source: Archives of Oral Biology

Author(s): Marina Gabriela Teixeira Buck, Priscila Souza Cabral Tuci, Flávia Cristina Perillo Rosin, Ana Rita Pinheiro Barcessat, Luciana Corrêa

ABSTRACT

Objective

The 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) model for carcinogenesis has been used to investigate cancer stem cells (CSC), but no study has addressed the role of the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75^NTR) in 4-NQO-induced oral dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemistry profile of the p75^NTR during 4-NQO-induced oral carcinogenesis in rats and to verify whether this profile has an association with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunolabeling.

Design

For 28 weeks, rats were exposed to 4-NQO, which was diluted in the drinking water. After 3, 5, 7, 16, and 28 weeks, the animals were euthanized and their tongues were histologically analyzed using p75^NTR and PCNA immunolabeling.

Results

In animals without 4-NQO exposure, the p75^NTR and PCNA were expressed only in the basal epithelial layer and in a clustered manner. The oral epithelium showed dysplasia and a significant increase in the number of p75^NTR- and PCNA-positive cells, which were localized mainly in the basal and suprabasal epithelial layers during weeks 5–16 of 4-NQO exposure. When the epithelium invaded the lamina propria and well-differentiated OSCC began, the p75^NTR-positive cell frequency drastically decreased in epithelial cords and nests, showing a negative correlation with PCNA expression. p75^NTR immunolabeling during 4-NQO-induced carcinogenesis was similar to that described for human head and neck dysplasia and neoplasia.

Conclusions

p75^NTR immunolabeling observed in 4-NQO-induced oral dysplastic and OSCC lesions were related to the early phases of oral carcinogenesis and may help predict cell dysplasia and malignant transformation.

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