Background: To compare the mRNA expression profile of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells and normal epithelial cells.
Materials and methods: Differential display was used to trace genes showing differential expression in HNSCC cells. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) was carried out to identify 5'upstream sequences followed by Northern hybridisation for verification of the differential mRNA expression.
Results: An overexpression of a 59 bp gene fragment was detected in HNSCC cells in contrast to normal epithelial cells. After cloning and sequencing the gene fragment, high grade of homology was found with a human cDNA full insert sequence (fis). After amplification and sequencing of the 5'end of the fis clone, subsequent database searches showed an exact match with the coding sequence of the human lysyl oxidase-like gene 4 (LOXL4). The differential expression of this 4.8 kb LOXL4-mRNA was confirmed by Northern hybridisation.
Conclusion: The data presented in this work might emphasize the involvement of LOXL4 in molecular processes of the genesis or progression of head and neck carcinomas.