Role of avb6 integrin in oral cancer
The cell-surface adhesion molecule, the avb6 integrin, is not detected on normal oral mucosa but is upregulated in oral squamous cell carcinoma. In fact more than 90% of oral SCC express avb6. Our laboratories have shown from in vitro studies that avb6 promotes the ability of SCC cells to invade partly by up-regulating the protease MMP9. The image shows three SCC cells that were grown in vitro then fixed before staining actin in red (phalloidin-TRITC- red), avb6 in blue (mouse monoclonal antibody R6G9 plus rabbit anti-mouse conjugated to Cy5) and MMP9 in green (rabbit anti-MMP9 plus anti-rabbit conjugated to FITC). It will be noted that the integrins are expressed strongly at the tips of the fine filopodial processes emanating from the cell peripheries and that the MMP9 appears to be closely associated with and surrounding these areas also. The distinct co-localisation of avb6 and MMP9 at the tips of filopodia may suggest that these fine structures co-ordinate the pro-invasive activity of avb6 and MMP9.
Supplied by John F Marshall (Richard Dimbleby/Cancer Research UK Laboratory, St Thomas Hospital London) and Gareth J Thomas (Eastman Dental Institute, London)
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