Expression Of Desmosomal Components Research Articles

Prognostic Significance of Desmoglein 2 and Desmoglein 3 in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Desmogleins (DSGs) are major members among the desmosomal cadherins critically involved in cell-cell adhesion and the maintenance of normal tissue architecture in epithelia. Reports exploring links of DSG family member expression with cancers are few and vary. The aim of this study was to investigate the ratio of DSG2 and DSG3 mRNA expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissue to normal tissue (T/N ratio) and evaluate correlations with clinical parameters. The mRNA expression of DSGs, as well as γ-catenin and desmoplakin, was detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in 85 cases of ESCC tissue specimens. The expression level of DSG3 mRNA was significantly higher than that of DSG2 in ESCC specimens (p = 0.000). DSG3 mRNA expression highly correlated with histological grade (p = 0.009), whereas that of DSG2 did not significantly relate to any clinicopathologic parameter. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that only DSG3 expression had an impact on the survival curve, with negative DSG3 expression indicating worse survival (p = 0.038). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated DSG3 to be an independent prognostic factor for survival. Furthermore, correlation analysis demonstrated the mRNA level of DSG3 to highly correlate with those of γ-catenin and desmoplakin in ESCC samples (p=0.000), implying that the expression of desmosomal components might be regulated by the same upstream regulatory molecules. Our findings suggest that DSG3 may be involved in the progression of ESCC and serve as a prognostic marker, while expression of DSG2 cannot be used as a predictor of ESCC patient outcome.

Expression Analysis of Desmosomal Components of the Novel Canine Epidermal Keratinocyte Cell Line (MSCEK)

A novel canine epidermal keratinocyte cell line, MSCEK, was developed from skin of a healthy dog. The aim of this study was to determine its expression of desmosomal components and to evaluate its use as a detection tool for circulating autoantibodies in canine pemphigus. Immunofluorescence and western blotting analyses revealed that MSCEK expresses desmoglein (Dsg) 1, Dsg2, Dsg3, desmoplakin, plakoglobin and cytokeratins. Moreover, positive fluorescent reactions on the surface of MSCEK cells were observed when the cells were incubated with sera obtained from four dogs diagnosed with pemphigus complex. These findings indicate that MSCEK should be a useful tool for future research to characterize circulating autoantibodies that recognize desmosomal components in dogs with pemphigus.

Desmosomes: a role in cancer?

Much evidence now attests to the importance of desmosomes and their constituents in cancer. Alterations in the expression of desmosomal components could contribute to the progression of the disease by modifying intracellular signal transduction pathways and/or by causing reduced cell adhesion. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a potential target because of the involvement of the cytoplasmic desmosomal protein plakoglobin. Loss of desmosomal adhesion is a prerequisite for the epithelial–mesenchymal transition, implicated in the conversion of early stage tumours to invasive cancers.

Desmosomes and disease: an update.

Desmosomes play a critical role in the maintenance of normal tissue architecture. Skin blistering can occur when desmosomal adhesion is compromised by antibodies in autoimmune diseases such as pemphigus. Inherited mutations in genes encoding desmosomal constituents can adversely affect the skin, and result in heart abnormalities. Desmosomes may have a tumour suppressor function: expression of desmosomal components is reduced in some human cancers, and desmosomal cadherins have the capacity to suppress the invasiveness of cells in culture. Transgenic animal research has provided important insights into the role of these junctions in normal epithelial morphogenesis and disease.