Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2007 May;50(5):442-447.

The Significance of Connexin 26 Expression in Squamous Cell Lesions of the Larynx

• Kim SY
• Cho SI
• Do NY
• Lee JH
• Kim GH
• Lim SC

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is a mechanism for direct cell to cell signalling and is mediated by gap junctions, which consist of transmembrane proteins called connexins (Cxs). The authors investigated the role of connexin 26 as a biomarker that helps diagnose laryngeal squamous cell lesions.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 50 patients, who were diagnosed with laryngeal invasive squamous cell carcinoma (n=15), carcinoma in situ (n=10), dysplasia (n=15), and non-neoplastic epithelial hyperplasia (n=10) between 1993 and 2005, were immunohistochemically stained for connexin 26 protein.
RESULTS
Intracytoplasmic positive expression of connexin 26 was found in 100% of invasive squamous cell carcinoma and in 20% of carcinoma in situ. However, in dysplasia and hyperplasia, there were no positive expressions. Moreover, the majority of intercellular or membranous staining tended to decline in dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and squamous cell carcinoma.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that aberrant expression of connexin 26 in laryngeal squamous cell lesions can be associated with tumorigenesis and invasion. Further studies are needed to investigate these expressions of connexin 26 and that it may represent more aggressive pathology of the larynx.

Keyword

Connexin 26; Larynx; Squamous cell neoplasm

MeSH Terms

Carcinogenesis
Carcinoma in Situ
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Connexins
Gap Junctions
Humans
Hyperplasia
Larynx*
Neoplasms, Squamous Cell
Pathology
Connexins