Changes in expression of the human homologue of the Drosophila discs large tumour suppressor protein in high-grade premalignant cervical neoplasias.

Richard Watson, Terence Rollason, Gary Reynolds, Paul Murray, L Banks, Sally Roberts

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

75 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Drosophila tumour suppressor discs large (Dlg) is a cell-junction localized protein that is required for the maintenance of epithelial cyto-architecture and the negative control of cell proliferation. The mammalian homologue is likely to have a similar mode of action, and therefore functional perturbation of this protein may be linked to the development of epithelial-derived cancers. The finding that several unrelated viral oncoproteins, including the E6 protein of oncogenic human papillomaviruses, bind to the human homologue of Dlg (hDlg) supports this proposition. Employing immunohistochemistry, we show that in uterine cervical squamous epithelia, prominent localization of hDlg at sites of intercellular contact occurs in cells that have left the proliferating basal cell layers and begun maturation. The presence of hDlg at sites of cell:cell contact diminishes, whilst intracellular cytoplasmic levels increase significantly in high-grade, but not low-grade, cervical neoplasias. In invasive squamous cell carcinomas, total cellular hDlg levels are greatly reduced. Our data suggest that loss of hDlg at sites of intercellular contact may be an important step in the development of epithelial cancers.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1791-6
Number of pages6
JournalCarcinogenesis
Volume23
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2002

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Changes in expression of the human homologue of the Drosophila discs large tumour suppressor protein in high-grade premalignant cervical neoplasias.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this