Charakterisierung von Connexin-43 im oralen Plattenepithelkarzinom
Connexin 43 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma
von Denise Sievers
Datum der mündl. Prüfung:2020-08-27
Erschienen:2020-08-21
Betreuer:Prof. Dr. Henning Schliephake
Gutachter:Prof. Dr. Henning Schliephake
Gutachter:PD Dr. Jürgen Becker
Gutachter:PD Dr. Felix Bremmer
Dateien
Name:Sievers_2020.pdf
Size:1.83Mb
Format:PDF
Zusammenfassung
Englisch
The aim of this study was to analyze the connexin 43 expression of three different head and neck tumor cell lines from distinct locations and with different proliferation rates. It was intended to investigate whether there was a difference in connexin 43 expression between the three cell lines and whether there was any difference between monolayer cell culture and multicellular tumor spheroids. For this purpose, the cell lines BHY, HN and CAL-27 were selected, and different analyses were performed in monolayer cell culture as well as in multicellular tumor spheroids. Connexin 43 protein expression was examined by immunofluorescence and western blot. Connexin 43 gene expression was evaluated by real-time PCR. A different connexin 43 protein and gene expression pattern was found in monolayer cell culture as well as in multicellular tumor spheroids. BHY, the slowly growing cell line, showed no connexin 43 protein expression and a very low connexin 43 gene expression in monolayer cell culture. HN, the moderately growing cell line and CAL-27, the fastly growing cell line, showed connexin 43 protein expression in monolayer cell culture, which could only be detected by immunofluorescence. Between the three cell lines, a significantly different connexin 43 gene expression was found in monolayer cell culture. CAL-27 showed the highest connexin 43 gene expression. Compared to the monolayer cell culture, there was a significant increase in connexin 43 gene expression in the multicellular tumor spheroids. Connexin 43 expression and the associated gap junctional intercellular communication seem to vary depending on tumor stage, tumor type, isoform and microenvironment. Connexin 43 function seems to go far beyond its function as a membrane protein. The regulation of connexin 43 expression and gap junctional intercellular communication may occur within the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Further functional studies are necessary for a better understanding and to develop novel therapeutic strategies in the future.
Keywords: connexin 43; oral squamous cell carcinoma