Immunofluorescence examination of CK-13 expression in cell line KB differentiated by all-trans retinoic acid or As2 O3

Abstract

To examine the expression of cytokeratin-13 (CK-13) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to discuss the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) or arsenic trioxide (As2 O3) on the differentiation of human oral undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma cell line KB cells. The cultured KB cells were divided into three groups, ATRA group, As2 O3 group, and control. The expression of CK-13 in KB cells was detected using the immunofluorescence before and after KB cells were induced by ATRA or As2 O3. The expression rates of CK-13 in KB cells in the ATRA group and As2 O3 group were significantly higher than that in the control (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the expression between ATRA and As2 O3 group(P > 0.05). ATRA and As2 O3 both have the ability to differentiate the KB cells, and the expression is associated with the degree of tumor differentiation. CK-13 may serve as a molecular marker to evaluate the effect of the differentiation treatment on OSCC.