Gene expression of oncogenes, antimicrobial peptides, and cytokines in the development of oral leukoplakia.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of oncogenes, antimicrobial peptides, and genes involved in inflammation in leukoplakia of the oral cavity compared with healthy gingiva.

STUDY DESIGN

Biopsies of healthy gingiva (n=20) and leukoplakia (n=20), were obtained during routine surgical procedures. RNA was extracted according to standard protocols. Transcript levels of alpha-defensin (DEFA) 1/3, DEFA-4, S100-A7, deleted-in-oral-cancer (Doc) 1, interleukin (IL) 1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, cyclooxygenase (Cox) 2, epidermal growth factor (EGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1, TGF-alpha, collagen-IA1 (Col-1), and tenascin-c were analyzed by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The proteins encoded by the different genes were visualized by immunostaining.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy gingiva (set as 1), there was an increased gene expression of DEFA-4 (179.2-fold), S100-A7 (25.4-fold), EGF (24.8-fold), TGF-beta1 (25.2-fold), and tenascin-c (34.3-fold) in oral leukoplakia. The expression of IL-1beta and Doc-1 was decreased (0.01-fold and 0.2-fold, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of an increased expression of the antimicrobial peptide DEFA-4, the oncogene S100-A7, EGF, and tenascin-c, and a decreased Doc-1 expression in oral leukoplakia might characterize its potency of malignant transformation. Chronic inflammation seems not to be involved in the development of this lesion.