RelB在蛋白酶体抑制剂诱导的maspin表达中的作用研究

目的: 探讨前列腺癌细胞中,核转录因子NF-κB家族成员之一RelB在蛋白酶体抑制剂作用下maspin蛋白表达调控中的作用机制。方法: 采用Western blotting法检测前列腺癌细胞中内源性及蛋白酶体抑制剂MG-132作用下RelA、RelB和maspin的蛋白表达;采用免疫组化法检测前列腺癌组织中RelB和maspin的表达情况;通过转染小分子RNA至前列腺癌细胞中沉默RelB的表达;采用Western blotting法检测RelB沉默对MG-132诱导的maspin蛋白表达情况的影响;PI染色法结合流式细胞术检测细胞死亡率。结果: 雄激素非依赖型前列腺癌细胞DU145中RelB表达增强而maspin表达明显降低。在检测的10例前列腺癌组织样本中,恶性度高(Gleason评分4-5)的样本普遍同时存在胞核内RelB强染色和maspin表达缺失。MG-132作用DU145细胞24 h后RelB在胞浆和胞核中表达水平下调,伴随着maspin在胞核内的表达上调。MG-132处理RelB表达沉默的DU145细胞8和24 h后,maspin的表达无明显变化,而RelA蛋白的表达水平呈时间依赖性的下调。结论: 在雄激素非依赖型前列腺癌细胞和晚期前列腺癌组织中,maspin与RelB的表达呈负相关性。蛋白酶体抑制剂诱导maspin的表达上调过程中,RelB是重要的调控因子。     

siRNA-survivin与GRIM-19共表达质粒的构建及其对前列腺癌DU145细胞生长的抑制作用

目的: 构建siRNA-survivin与GRIM-19共表达质粒pGRIM-19-si-survivin并鉴定,观察pGRIM-19-si-survivin质粒对人前列腺癌DU145细胞survivin和GRIM-19 mRNA表达水平及细胞增殖能力的影响。方法:根据前期工作,利用基因重组技术构建siRNA-survivin与GRIM-19共表达质粒,将成功构建的pGRIM-19-si-survivin质粒转染人前列腺癌DU145细胞株,应用半定量RT-PCR方法检测细胞内survivin和GRIM-19 mRNA表达水平,应用MTT法观察其对细胞增殖能力的影响。结果:(1)应用酶切及质粒测序法鉴定,证明成功构建siRNA-survivin与GRIM-19共表达质粒。(2)与mock组比较,psi-survivin、pGRIM-19及pGRIM-19-si-survivin组survivin mRNA表达水平分别为0.55±0.05、0.62±0.08和0.35±0.05,差异显著(P<0.01);与psi-survivin和pGRIM-19组比较,pGRIM-19-si-survivin的抑制survivin表达作用明显增强(P<0.05);psi-survivin、pGRIM-19和pGRIM-19-si-survivin组GRIM-19表达增强,分别为mock组的1.93±0.14、2.57±0.20 和4.12±0.21(P<0.01),与pGRIM-19组比较,pGRIM-19-si-survivin增强GRIM-19表达作用更明显(P<0.05)。(3)转染48 h后,与mock组比较,psi-survivin、pGRIM-19和pGRIM-19-si-survivin 3组细胞增殖率分别为58.0%±7.2%、62.1%±6.1%和50.2%±4.8%,差异显著(P<0.05);转染72 h后,与mock组比较,3组细胞增殖率分别为43.4%±4.3%、51.3%±6.7%和26.8%±7.1%,差异明显(P<0.05,P<0.01);与psi-survivin和pGRIM-19组比较,pGRIM-19-si-survivin抑制作用明显增强(P<0.05)。结论:成功构建siRNA-survivin和GRIM-19共表达质粒pGRIM-19-si-survivin;该质粒抑制survivin表达并增强GRIM-19表达,对前列腺癌DU145细胞具有协同增殖抑制效应。     

Survivin-siRNA对前列腺癌PC-3M细胞增殖的抑制作用

目的：探讨survivin-siRNA对前列腺癌细胞株PC-3M的增殖抑制作用。 方法:构建两个针对survivin siRNA表达载体，与脂质体和空质粒两个对照组一起分别转染前列腺癌PC-3M细胞后，利用半定量RT-PCR和Western blotting分别检测细胞survivin mRNA及蛋白表达水平，MTT法测定细胞的增殖能力，流式细胞术检测细胞周期和凋亡。 结果:转染72 h后，两个实验组细胞的survivin mRNA水平是脂质体组的48%±6% (n=3)和30%±5%(n=3)，蛋白表达水平是脂质体组的38%±4%（n=3）和36%±4%（n=3）。MTT检测实验组细胞的生长速度分别是脂质体组的44.20%±2.08%(n=3)和39.20%±1.93%（n=3），流式细胞术发现实验组G1期细胞比例明显高于两个对照组，而G2期和S期细胞比例减少，细胞出现凋亡。 结论:利用survivin-siRNA可明显抑制前列腺癌PC-3M细胞的增殖，细胞受阻于G1期, 诱导细胞凋亡，为进一步进行动物体内研究奠定了基础。     

Maspin在非小细胞肺癌A549细胞生物学行为中的作用

目的:探讨乳腺丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制物(maspin)对于非小细胞肺癌细胞生物学有何影响及其作用机制。方法:PCR扩增人类maspin编码区全长,并构建maspin过表达载体,转染A549细胞。药物筛选出稳定高表达maspin蛋白的细胞株,并通过real-time PCR和Western blot鉴定。通过x Celligence系统实时动态观测转染后A549细胞的生长、迁移和侵袭情况。利用Western blot和real-time PCR的方法对此细胞生物学变化的相关基因进行分析,探讨相应的作用机制。结果:成功构建过表达Maspin的载体MSCV-maspin,并获得稳定高表达maspin的A549细胞株(A549-maspin)。A549-control细胞和A549-maspin细胞生长曲线无差异,但是迁移和侵袭曲线有显著差异。在A549-maspin细胞中integrinβ1的表达水平低于A549-control细胞。结论:Maspin对于A549细胞的生长无影响,但是抑制了A549细胞的迁移和侵袭能力,并且此抑制作用与integrinβ1相关。     

MDR1基因沉默增强三尖杉酯碱诱导的HT9细胞凋亡

目的: 探讨靶向P-糖蛋白(又称多药耐药蛋白1,MDR1)基因的shRNA对三尖杉酯碱诱导人耐三尖杉酯碱的前髓细胞白血病HT9细胞凋亡的影响。方法: 构建MDR1 基因特异的shRNA表达载体pSilencer 3.1-H1 neo-MDR1,稳定电转染HT9细胞,实时荧光定量PCR分析MDR1 mRNA的表达,Western blotting检测细胞MDR1蛋白表达,MTT法检测细胞活力,经三尖杉酯碱处理后琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测凋亡细胞DNA片段化,激光共聚焦观察细胞形态变化,流式细胞术检测细胞周期变化。结果: 成功构建了shRNA表达载体pSilencer 3.1-H1 neo-MDR1,稳定转染后,HT9细胞MDR1 mRNA和蛋白表达均显著降低, HT9细胞三尖杉酯碱的 IC₅₀由(1.184±0.130)mg/L降至(0.711±0.010)mg/L。与HT9细胞相比,经三尖杉酯碱处理后稳定转染细胞HT9/sh-3.1-1的DNA ladder更明显,激光共聚焦显微镜下可见形态不规则的碎片状或梅花状等典型的细胞凋亡形态;细胞的S期细胞增多,并出现明显的凋亡峰。结论: shRNA表达载体pSilencer 3.1-H1 neo-MDR1能够稳定、持久地抑制MDR1 基因,并有效增强三尖杉酯碱诱导的HT9细胞凋亡。     

Prohibitin在低胆固醇培养人前列腺癌细胞系PC-3中表达上调及其可能机制

目的: 探讨prohibitin(PHB)表达上调在低胆固醇培养抑制前列腺癌PC-3细胞增殖中的作用及对前列腺癌进展的影响。方法: PC-3细胞分别培养于普通和低胆固醇培养基中48 h后,real-time PCR 鉴定PHB mRNA的差异表达。克隆 PHB 基因启动子片段,构建萤光质粒并转染至PC-3细胞,检测细胞培养基中胆固醇变化对于 PHB 基因启动子萤光素酶表达影响。结果: 低胆固醇培养基组中PHB表达上调约19倍,在低胆固醇培养基的前列腺癌PC-3细胞中 PHB 基因启动子质粒萤光素酶表达显著增强,同普通培养对照组相比有显著差异。结论: PHB在低胆固醇培养前列腺癌PC-3细胞中表达显著增强,这可能是前列腺癌细胞在不利于增殖条件下的一种自我保护调节机制。     

MNNG诱导TERC基因沉默的16HBE细胞恶性转化模型的建立

目的: 建立N-甲基em>N’-硝基-N-亚硝基胍(N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, MNNG)诱导的人端粒酶RNA组分(telomerase RNA component, TERC)缺陷的人支气管上皮细胞株(16HBE)恶性转化细胞模型。方法:将靶向TERC基因的shRNA干扰质粒载体转染16HBE细胞,G418抗性克隆筛选得到稳定转染的16HBE-1细胞,RT-PCR检测16HBE-1细胞TERC mRNA的干扰效率;用1 mg/L MNNG对16HBE-1细胞进行隔代染毒,每次染毒1 h;直到染毒27次转化灶的出现。分离扩增转化灶细胞并命名为16HBE-T,用软琼脂克隆形成实验和裸鼠成瘤实验鉴定细胞的转化程度。结果:从转化灶分离培养的细胞能在软琼脂中生长,且转化细胞能在裸鼠体内成瘤,HE染色后光镜下显示为鳞癌。结论:成功建立MNNG诱导的TERC基因缺陷的16HBE细胞恶性转化模型。     

构建survivin shRNA重组载体及靶向下调PC3细胞survivin mRNA的表达

背景：survivin基因特异性表达于肿瘤和胚胎组织,与肿瘤细胞的分化增殖、浸润转移以及多药耐药密切相关。 目的：构建靶向survivin基因的shRNA重组质粒表达载体,转染前列腺癌细胞PC3,验证该载体能否下调细胞survivin基因mRNA水平。 方法：以survivin基因为靶点设计具有短发夹结构的shRNA序列,经退火成互补双链后克隆入pENTR/U6建立重组表达载体pENTR/U6-SUR;转化E.coli TOP10菌株,挑取阳性菌落进行菌落PCR和测序鉴定;将重组质粒转染前列腺癌细胞株PC3细胞,RT-PCR检测重组质粒对细胞survivin基因mRNA水平的抑制效果。 结果与结论：将设计合成的shRNA序列经退火后克隆至pENTR/U6载体中,菌落PCR可扩增出目的条带,测序结果证实插入片段为所需序列;pENTR/U6-SUR重组质粒转染后PC3细胞survivin基因mRNA表达水平显著下降,且24 h比48 h作用更明显。成功构建了靶向survivin基因的shRNA质粒表达载体,并证实该载体显著下调了PC3细胞中survivin基因mRNA水平。     

miR-506-3p通过靶向MTDH增加前列腺癌细胞的化学敏感性

目的研究miR-506-3p对前列腺癌细胞化学敏感性的影响及其作用机制。方法用RT-qPCR检测miR-506-3p和MTDH在前列腺癌细胞系和正常前列腺细胞系中的表达水平;以紫杉醇为诱导药物构建人前列腺癌耐药细胞株PC-3/PTX,将PC-3/PTX细胞随机分为5组对照组、NC mimic组、miR-506-3p mimic组、LV-MTDH组、mimic+MTDH组,利用Lipofectamine 3000转染试剂盒分别转染对应质粒。检测其存活率、IC50值、克隆细胞数目、凋亡率以及凋亡相关蛋白的表达水平;构建MTDH野生型(WT)和突变型(MUT),用双荧光素酶报告基因实验验证miR-506-3p与MTDH之间的靶向关系;Western blot检测miR-506-3p mimic处理后PC-3/PTX细胞中MTDH的蛋白表达水平。结果miR-506-3p在前列腺癌细胞中低表达,而MTDH高表达;miR-506-3p在PC-3/PTX细胞中的表达量显著低于在前列腺癌细胞PC-3中的表达量;相比于对照组和NC mimic组,miR-506-3p mimic组的PC-3/PTX细胞的存活率、IC50值、克隆细胞数目及Bcl-2表达明显降低,凋亡率及Bax表达明显升高;MTDH野生型较突变型能使荧光素酶活性显著下降;miR-506-3p mimic组PC-3/PTX细胞中MTDH蛋白表达水平显著低于对照组和NC mimic组;相比于对照组,miR-506-3p mimic组中PC-3/PTX细胞克隆数目显著减少,凋亡率升高,而LV-MTDH组与之相反;相比于LV-MTDH组,mimic+MTDH组PC-3/PTX细胞中MTDH的表达量显著下降,细胞克隆数目减少,凋亡率升高。结论miR-506-3p通过靶向抑制MTDH的表达能增强人前列腺癌耐药细胞株PC-3/PTX的化学敏感性。     

上调SMYD3对人胆管癌FRH0201细胞中DNMT3B表达及细胞增殖的影响

目的: 研究人胆管癌细胞株FRH0201中SET和MYND结构域含有蛋白3(SET and MYND domain-containing protein 3,SMYD3)过度表达对DNA甲基化转移酶3B(DNA methyltransferase 3B,DNMT3B)表达及细胞增殖能力的影响。方法: 瞬时转染SMYD3真核表达质粒后, RT-PCR检测细胞中DNMT3B mRNA水平的变化;Western blotting检测细胞中DNMT3B蛋白水平的变化;CCK-8检测细胞增殖能力的改变;流式细胞术检测细胞周期的改变。结果: 以未处理组为对照,胆管癌细胞FRH0201在转染pEGFP-C3-SMYD3质粒后,DNMT3B蛋白及mRNA表达均显著上升(P<0.01);细胞的增殖能力显著提高、细胞增殖速度加快(P<0.05);进入G₂/M期的细胞明显增多(P<0.05)。结论: 过度表达SMYD3,可引起细胞中DNMT3B的表达上调并增强细胞增殖能力。     

Prognostic significance of maspin in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: tissue microarray analysis of 223 surgically resected cases.

Maspin (SERPINB5), a serine proteinase inhibitor, was first identified as a potential tumor suppressor on the basis of its differential expression between normal mammary epithelial cells and human breast carcinoma cell lines. Recent studies have shown that maspin might be a prognostic tumor marker. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma acquires maspin expression through hypomethylation of the maspin promoter. However, no study has investigated the prognostic significance of maspin expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. In this study, we investigated maspin protein expression in a large series of 223 surgically resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas using immunohistochemical staining and high throughput tissue microarrays. Maspin expression was correlated with postoperative survival and other clinicopathologic factors. Maspin was detected in 209 of these 223 (94% cases) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas including 39 (18% cases) focal (5-50% tumor cells) and 170 (76% cases) diffuse (>50% tumor cells). Fourteen (or 6% cases) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas did not show maspin expression by immunohistochemical staining (<5% tumor cells). Normal ductal epithelium is not labeled with maspin. Overexpression of maspin in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is associated with worse postoperative survival especially in patients whose tumors exhibit diffuse expression of maspin. After adjusting other clinicopathologic factors, maspin expression remains to be an independent adverse prognosticator for postoperative survival. Maspin expression is not associated with patient age, gender, tumor size, tumor pathologic stage, lymph node status, and vascular invasion or perineural invasion. Nuclear labeling of maspin is associated with better tumor differentiation although this staining pattern is not associated with a better prognosis. In addition, maspin overexpression is also observed in 48% low-grade (grades 1a and 1b) pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs) and 78% high-grade (grades 2 and 3) PanINs, suggesting that maspin upregulation occurs early during the multi-step progression model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.     

Maspin expression is regulated by the non-canonical NF-κB subunit in androgen-insensitive prostate cancer cell lines

Dysregulation of Maspin expression and constitutive activation of NF-κB subunits are important events in tumorigenesis of prostate cancer. Recent finding points that RelB, which contributes to the alternative NF-κB activity, interferes with carcinogenesis in the prostate. We report here, that both the classical and the alternative NF-κB activities are constitutively present in androgen-insensitive human prostate cancer cells. Maspin and RelB expression is correlated negatively in prostate cancer tissues at the later stage. TNF-α signaling triggers the nuclear accumulation of RelB and the concomitant reduction of Maspin expression in a time-dependent manner. In addition, the proteasome inhibitor-induced Maspin expression is accompanied by the reduction of RelB expression. A successful depletion of RelB expression, but not RelA expression, induces Maspin expression. RelB-deficiency abrogates the proteasome inhibitor-induced Maspin expression. Moreover, we demonstrate that the enforced expression of RelB protein in prostate cancer cells inhibits Maspin expression. We propose that RelB is an essential molecule controlling the endogenous and the proteasome inhibitor-induced Maspin expression. Developing a RelB-targeted therapeutic intervention, which might be coupled with the induction of a tumor suppressor Maspin, is valuable in treating advanced, metastatic prostate cancer.     

Nuclear expression of maspin is associated with a lower recurrence rate and a longer disease-free interval after surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx

AIMS: Maspin, a protein belonging to the serpin superfamily, is the product of a tumour suppressor gene. Tissue distribution studies have shown maspin expression in normal mammary epithelial cells, in the placenta, prostate, thymus, testis, oral cavity, small intestine, skin, and cornea. Maspin is expressed but down-regulated in human breast, prostatic, and colonic cancers but apparently up-regulated in pancreatic, ovarian, and gastric cancers. Only two studies concerning maspin expression in head and neck carcinomas are available. The present study is the first attempt to determine maspin expression in laryngeal carcinoma. METHODS AND RESULTS: Maspin expression was evaluated in 21 cases of laryngeal carcinoma consecutively treated with an exclusively surgical approach with a follow-up period longer than 24 months. The expression of p53, p27 and MIB-1 was also studied. Two patterns of distribution of maspin in laryngeal neoplastic cells were found. Cytoplasmic expression of maspin was identified in 47.6% of the cases. Nuclear maspin positivity was determined in 47.6% of the cases. A statistically significant difference in nuclear maspin expression between the group of patients without carcinoma recurrence and the group with evidence of recurrence was demonstrated (P = 0.039). Log rank test analysis showed a statistically significant direct correlation between nuclear maspin expression and disease-free intervals after surgical treatment calculated in months (P = 0.028). A significant inverse correlation was disclosed between nuclear maspin staining and MIB-1 (P = 0.028). A trend of increasing p27 expression was noted in cases with positive nuclear maspin expression. Nuclear maspin expression was not statistically correlated with p53 expression. A trend towards direct correlation between cytoplasmic maspin expression and squamous cell carcinoma histological grade (G) was apparent. Cytoplasmic maspin expression did not correlate with p53, MIB-1 or p27 expression. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that nuclear location of maspin is a good prognostic factor in laryngeal carcinoma.     

蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132诱导caspase-8依赖的骨肉瘤细胞凋亡机制研究

目的：探讨蛋白酶体抑制剂Z-LLL-CHO(MG132)对人骨肉瘤细胞MG-63的作用以及可能作用机制。方法:将不同浓度的MG132作用于骨肉瘤细胞MG-63，采用显微镜观察形态改变、电镜观察细胞超微结构、MTT检测细胞增殖活力、琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测细胞凋亡、流式细胞仪分析细胞凋亡率以及细胞周期改变、RT-PCR检测基因转录、Western blotting检测蛋白表达水平。 结果:MG132能有效诱导人骨肉瘤细胞系MG-63细胞周期在G₂-M期的停滞，并引起MG-63的凋亡，出现凋亡的典型形态学改变，同时出现p27kip1蛋白的积累，caspase-8活化蛋白表达增加，Bax∶Bcl-2蛋白含量比例的增高，而对正常的人二倍体成纤维细胞，MG132并未表现诱导其凋亡的活性。结论:MG132引起的人骨肉瘤细胞MG-63的凋亡也许是与caspase-8、p27kip1和Bcl-2蛋白相关的。     

Association of maspin expression with the high histological grade and lymphocyte-rich stroma in early-stage breast cancer

AIMS: Maspin is a recently described member of the serpin family or protease inhibitors that is known to be a tumour suppressor gene product. Loss of maspin expression has been found in most breast cancer cases and is correlated with cell motility and tumour invasiveness. However, its precise role in human breast cancer remains to be discovered. We aimed to evaluate the role of maspin in early-stage breast cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed the expression of maspin in 192 stage I and II primary breast cancers by immunohistochemistry. Of these cases, 34.4% showed maspin expression. Maspin expression was more frequently found in invasive ductal carcinoma (36.4%) than in invasive lobular carcinoma (7.1%). High maspin expression was demonstrated in breast cancers showing high histological grade or lymphocyte-rich stroma (P < 0.05). Maspin expression was not associated with overall and disease-free survival rate of breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that different biological mechanisms may be responsible for maspin expression in histologically distinct types of breast cancer. Our survey suggests that maspin expression in breast cancer might have a compensatory role rather than prognostic one.     

CD147对前列腺癌PC-3细胞自噬的影响

 目的：研究白细胞分化抗原（CD）147在体外对前列腺癌PC-3细胞的自噬作用。方法：通过氨基酸饥饿法建立自噬模型,免疫印迹技术检测CD147的表达。利用RNA干扰CD147表达的细胞系,免疫印迹技术检测自噬蛋白LC3-I和LC3-II的表达;台盼蓝排斥实验检测细胞的死亡情况。结果：在PC-3细胞自噬模型中,随着饥饿诱导时间延长,CD147表达逐渐升高。用RNA干扰技术降低CD147表达后,与阴性对照组比较,在自噬模型中CD147干扰组自噬相关蛋白LC3-II表达增多;并且细胞死亡数量明显增加,阴性对照组细胞死亡率分别为（19.3±3.1）%和（22.3±3.5）%,而在CD147干涉组细胞死亡率为(38.4±3.1)%,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：在前列腺癌PC-3细胞中CD147抑制饥饿诱导的自噬,减少自噬性细胞死亡的发生。     

蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132对NK/T淋巴瘤细胞增殖、凋亡和细胞周期的影响

目的： 探讨蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132（Z-leu-leu-leu-CHO,三肽基乙醛）对NK/T淋巴瘤细胞的增殖和细胞周期分布的影响,研究蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132治疗NK/T细胞淋巴瘤的潜在应用价值。方法: 用蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132处理细胞,噻唑蓝［ 3（4,5二甲基噻唑2）2,5二苯基四氮唑溴盐,3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide,MTT］法检测细胞增殖抑制率,倒置显微镜观察细胞形态改变,流式细胞仪检测细胞周期分布和凋亡。结果: 1 μmol/L MG132作用24 h,HANK1细胞增殖抑制率为（57.72±7.44）%,而0.1 μmol/L MG132作用24 h,增殖抑制率仅为（3.98±0.07）%;MG132剂量大,增殖抑制率高;1 μmol/L MG132作用24 h后,HANK1细胞G1和G2期细胞分别为（72.33±3.44）%和（12.86±1.29）%,对照组为（63.63±2.29）%和（7.94±1.91）%,用药组G1和G2期细胞明显高于对照组（P<0.01,P<0.05）; 早期凋亡细胞和晚期凋亡细胞分别为（33.57±2.10）%和（16.66±0.47）%,而对照组仅为（7.18±0.82）%和（3.81±1.06）%,与对照组相比,凋亡率明显增高 (P<0.01,P<0.01)。结论: MG132抑制NK/T细胞淋巴瘤细胞增殖,使细胞周期G1和G2期阻滞,促进细胞凋亡,并存在剂量和时间依赖关系,蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132很可能成为治疗进展期NK/T细胞淋巴瘤的药物。     

High frequency of coexpression of maspin with p63 and p53 in squamous cell carcinoma but not in adenocarcinoma of the lung

Maspin, a member of the serpin family of protease inhibitors, has been shown to inhibit tumor growth and suppress metastasis in several malignancies, including lung cancer. Previous studies have reported that p63 and p53 control maspin expression by transactivating the promoter. The present study analyzed immunohistochemical studies to determine the expression and coexpression patterns of maspin, p63 and p53 in non-small cell lung carcinoma, specifically squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The results showed that 83/86 cases (96.5%) of squamous cell carcinoma and 82/161 cases (50.9%) of adenocarcinoma included in this study were positive for maspin. There were 79/86 cases (91.9%) of squamous cell carcinoma and 16/161 cases (9.9%) of adenocarcinoma with positive expression for p63. In addition, 77/86 cases (89.5%) of squamous cell carcinoma and 99/161 cases (61.5%) of adenocarcinoma were positive for p53. Maspin, p63 and p53 expression were each significantly higher in squamous cell carcinoma than adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinomas more highly coexpress maspin and p63, as well as maspin and p53, when compared with adenocarcinomas. The high frequency of coexpression of maspin and p63, as well as maspin and p53, in squamous cell carcinoma, suggests that p63 and p53 may be involved in the pathway to control maspin expression. Therapeutic targeting on maspin, p63 and p53 molecules might be beneficial in the management of patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the lung in the future.