The Tissue Architecture of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Visualized by Staining Patterns of Wheat Germ Agglutinin and Structural Proteins Using Confocal Microscopy

Abstract: Objectives: Tissue architecture and cell morphology suffer profound alterations during oral cancer and are important markers for its progression and outcome. For precise visualization of tissue architecture in oral cancer, we used confocal microscopy to examine the staining pattern of whea...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Silveyra, Estefanía, Bologna-Molina, Ronell, Gónzalez-Gónzalez, Rogelio, Arocena, Miguel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:Uruguay
Institución:Universidad de la República
Repositorio:COLIBRI
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:colibri.udelar.edu.uy:20.500.12008/31424
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12008/31424
https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10092466
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Oral squamous cell carcinoma
Wheat germ agglutinin
Tyramide signal amplification
Tissue architecture
CARCINOMA DE CELULAS ESCAMOSAS
AGLUTININAS DEL GERMEN DE TRIGO
Descripción
Sumario:Abstract: Objectives: Tissue architecture and cell morphology suffer profound alterations during oral cancer and are important markers for its progression and outcome. For precise visualization of tissue architecture in oral cancer, we used confocal microscopy to examine the staining pattern of wheat germ agglutinin, a lectin that binds membrane glycoproteins, and the staining patterns of structural proteins. Materials and Methods: Paraffin sections of oral squamous cell carcinoma were stained with fluorescently labeled wheat germ agglutinin and with antibodies against structural proteins, which were revealed by immunohistochemistry with tyramide signal amplification. Results: Membrane localization of wheat germ agglutinin was markedly decreased in the basal layers and in regions of tumor invasion, accompanied by cytoplasmic redistribution of E-cadherin, -actin and syndecan-1. Wheat germ agglutinin staining clearly identified tumor clusters within the surrounding stroma, and tumor cells with elongated morphology. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the wheat germ agglutinin staining pattern is indicative of the degree of cell cohesion in oral squamous cell carcinoma, which decreases in basal layers and invasive tumor clusters with more migratory morphologies. Wheat germ agglutinin staining in combination with confocal microscopy could constitute, therefore, a valuable tool for the study of tissue architecture in oral cancer.