AJUBA在口腔鳞癌中的表达和意义及其相关机制

  目的  探讨AJUBA (ajuba LIM protein)基因在口腔鳞癌(oral squamous cell carcinoma，OSCC)中的表达及其对OSCC细胞增殖、迁移能力的影响。  方法  采用qPCR和免疫组织化学方法检测OSCC和癌旁组织中AJUBA的表达情况，分析AJUBA与OSCC临床病理参数之间的关系。通过MTT实验、划痕实验及Transwell实验探究AJUBA对OSCC细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭的影响。West-ern blot法检测AJUBA对OSCC细胞Snail/E-cadherin信号通路相关蛋白表达的影响。  结果  AJUBA在OSCC组织中显著高表达，与T分期、肿瘤分化、淋巴结转移和复发相关(P < 0.05)，且其表达提示不良预后。敲降AJUBA后，OSCC细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭能力受到抑制。Western blot结果显示AJUBA能够促进Snail的表达，抑制E-cadherin的表达。  结论  AJUBA在OSCC组织中高表达，可能通过Snail/E-cadherin信号通路参与OSCC的增殖和侵袭。 

Expression and potential role of ajuba LIM protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma

  Objective  To assess the expression of ajuba LIM protein (AJUBA) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to determine its role in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in OSCC.  Methods  The expression of AJUBA at mRNA and protein levels in OSCC was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemical approaches, respectively. This was followed by analysis of the correlations between AJUBA levels and clinicopathological features of OSCC. The effects of AJUBA on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in OSCC were assessed by MTT, wound healing, and transwell migration assays, respectively. Western blot assays were performed to check for the potential regulation of the Snail/E-cadherin pathway by AJUBA.  Results  The expression of AJUBA was significantly higher in OSCC tissues compared to that in adjacent normal tissues and correlated with T stage, cell differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and recurrence in OSCC. Elevated AJUBA levels indicated poor prognosis in patients with OSCC. Depletion of AJUBA impaired cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of OSCC cells. Data from Western blot assays showed that AJUBA facilitated the expression of Snail but inhibited that of E-cadherin.  Conclusions  AJUBA is overexpressed in OSCC and may influence cell proliferation and invasion in OSCC by modulating the Snail/E-cadherin pathway.