Objective: This work aimed to determine the expression changes in LIM domain only protein 1 (LMO1) in gene transcription and protein levels during oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) development.
Methods: The tissues in this study were taken from our team's previous animal model building, and we performed hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining on 49 cases. The pathological classification of the experiment group was determined on the basis of the abnormal epithelial hyperplasia degree. The expression part of LMO1 was determined by immunohistochemistry staining. The mRNA and protein LMO1 expression levels in five groups were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative of nucleotide polymer chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot, respectively.
Results: HE staining determined 7 cases of the control group, 6 cases of mild epithelial dysplasia, 11 cases of moderate epithelial dysplasia, 9 cases of severe epithelial dysplasia, and 16 cases of OSCC. Immunohistochemistry results: LMO1 expression was localized in the cytoplasm, and the positive expression rates of the protein LMO1 in the control and experiment groups were 14.3% for normal buccal mucosal tissue, 33.3% for mild epithelial dysplasia, 81.8% for moderate epithelial dysplasia, 88.9% for severe epithelial dysplasia, and 93.8% for OSCC. RT-qPCR results: mRNA expression was lowest in the control group and highest in the OSCC group, the difference between the mild dysplasia and control groups was not significant (P>0.05). Pairwise comparison among other groups showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Western blot results: with the aggravation of the pathological degree, the protein LMO1 expression level increased gradually. The OSCC group expressed the highest LMO1 expression level.
Conclusions: The oral mucosa carcinogenesis models showed abnormal the mRNA and protein LMO1 expression levels, and the mRNA and protein expression levels were positively correlated with the degree of abnormal proliferation.
目的 研究口腔黏膜癌变中小分子锌指蛋白1（LMO1）在基因转录和蛋白水平的表达变化。方法 取本课题组前期4-硝基喹啉-N-氧化物（4NQO）饮水法构建鳞癌动物模型的49例样本进行苏木精-伊红（HE）染色，依据上皮异常增生程度确定实验组病理分级并确定实验分组；免疫组织化学染色定性确定LMO1的表达部位；实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应（RT-qPCR）和Western blot检测5组样本中LMO1 mRNA和蛋白的表达。结果 HE染色确定对照组7例，轻度组6例，中度组11例，重度组9例，OSCC组16例。免疫组织化学染色检测可见，LMO1主要表达于细胞质，对照组、轻度组、中度组、重度组和OSCC组的阳性表达率分别为14.3%、33.3%、81.8%、88.9%、93.8%。RT-qPCR检测可见，对照组LMO1 mRNA的表达量最低，OSCC组最高，对照组与轻度组间mRNA表达差异无统计学意义（P>0.05），其余各组组间两两比较，mRNA的表达差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。Western blot检测可见，随着上皮异常增生程度的加重，LMO1的蛋白表达量逐渐上升，在OSCC组中表达最高。结论 口腔黏膜癌变进程中，LMO1 mRNA和蛋白异常表达，且mRNA和蛋白表达量随上皮异常增生程度的加重而增加。.
Keywords: LIM domain only protein 1; epithelial dysplasia; oral squamous cell carcinoma.