Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
2
Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
3
Otolaryngology Research Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
4
Department of Pathology, Khalili Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract
Objective: Salivary gland tumors (SGTs) show some aggressive and peculiar clinicopathological behaviors that might
be related to the components of the tumor microenvironment, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-associated
proteins. However, the role of MSCs-related proteins in SGTs tumorigenesis is poorly understood. This study aimed to
isolate and characterize MSCs from malignant and benign tumor tissues and to identify differentially expressed proteins
between these two types of MSCs.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, MSC-like cells derived from benign (pleomorphic adenoma, n=5) and malignant (mucoepidermoid carcinoma, n=5) tumor tissues were verified by fluorochrome antibodies and flow cytometric analysis. Differentially expressed proteins were identified using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2DE) and Mass spectrometry.
Results: Results showed that isolated cells strongly expressed characteristic MSCs markers such as CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105, and CD166, but they did not express or weakly expressed CD14, CD34, CD45 markers. Furthermore, the expression of CD24 and CD133 was absent or near absent in both isolated cells. Results also discovered overexpression of Annexin A4 (Anxa4), elongation factor 1-delta (EF1-D), FK506 binding protein 9 (FKBP9), cytosolic platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase type IB subunit beta (PAFAH1B), type II transglutaminase (TG2), and s-formylglutathione hydrolase (FGH) in MSCs isolated from the malignant tissues. Additionally, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), as well as keratin, type II cytoskeletal 7 (CK-7), were found to be overexpressed in MSCs derived from the benign ones.
Conclusion: Malignant and benign SGTs probably exhibit a distinct pattern of tissue proteins that are most likely related to the metabolic pathway. However, further studies in a large number of patients are required to determine the applicability of identified proteins as new targets for cancer therapy.
Keywords