Abstract
Background Nitric oxide (NO·) and its metabolic byproducts are implicated in carcinogenesis. We examined a marker of NO·-species' pathologic protein nitrosylation, nitrotyrosine, during head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCCa) development. Materials and Methods Paraffin-embedded tissue samples of normal oral mucosa, squamous hyperplasia/dysplasia, and HNSCCa were immunohistochemically analyzed for staining intensity using an antinitrotyrosine monoclonal antibody, and correlated with retrospective clinical data. Results Significantly higher staining was noted in reactive, dysplastic and HNSCCa samples compared with samples of normal mucosa. Additionally, significant differences in staining were found between various primary sites of the upper aerodigestive tract. Lastly, individual inflammatory cells also stained intensely. Conclusions Increasing amounts of nitrotyrosine staining were found in reactive/dysplastic and HNSCCa lesions compared to normal squamous mucosa. Inflammatory cell staining implicates NO· as a possible mediator of immunosuppression. Given these findings, the role of NO· in mutations leading to and the immunosuppression found in HNSCCa warrants further investigation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 22: 64–70, 2000.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
