抄録
TGF-β1, TGF-βRI and TGF-βRII were examined in 80 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 26 cases of leukoplakia and 10 cases of early carcinoma in leukoplakia of the tongue by immunohistochemical methods. Nine cases of SCC were analyzed immunoelectron microscopically. Expression of TGF-β1 was enhanced in SCC compared with early carcinoma in leukoplakia and with leukoplakia (P<0.05). Expression of TGF-βRI and TGF-βRII was significantly reduced in SCC compared leukoplakia (P<0.01). Early carcinoma in leukoplakia did not show enhanced expression of TGF-β1 but expression of TGF-βRI and TGF-βRII was reduced, compared with leukoplakia (P<0.05). Immunoelectron microscopically, TGF-β1 immunostaining was scattered in the cytoplasm of tumor cells and TGF-βRI and TGF-βRII stainings were present on the tumor cell membrane and in the capillary endothelial cells of the stroma. In conclusion, tumorigenesis in the tongue may involve escape from cellular regulation of TGF-β1 by reduced expression of TGF-βRI and TGF-βRII.
