Uniform expression of alcohol dehydrogenase 3 in epithelia regenerated with cultured normal, immortalised and malignant human oral keratinocytes

The human oral epithelium is a target for damage from the inhalation of formaldehyde. However, most experimental studies on this chemical have relied on laboratory animals that are obligatory nose breathers, including rats and mice. Therefore, in vitro model systems that mimic the structure of the human oral epithelium and which retain normal tissue-specific metabolic competence are desirable. Based on the established role of alcohol dehydrogenase 3 (ADH3), also known as glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase, as the primary enzyme catalysing the detoxification of formaldehyde, the aim of this study was to investigate the expression of ADH3 in organotypic epithelia regenerated with normal (NOK), immortalised (SVpgC2a) and malignant (SqCC/Y1) human oral keratinocytes. Organotypic epithelia, usually consisting of 5-10 cell layers, were produced at the air-liquid interface of collagen gels containing human oral fibroblasts, after culture for 10 days in a standardised serum-free medium. Immunochemical staining demonstrated uniform expression of ADH3 in these organotypic epithelia, as well as in the epithelial cells of oral tissue. The specificity of the ADH3 antiserum was ascertained from the complete neutralisation of the immunochemical reaction with purified ADH3 protein. Assessment of the staining intensities indicated that the expression levels were similar among the regenerated epithelia. Furthermore, the regenerated epithelia showed similar ADH3 expression to the epithelium in oral tissue. Therefore, a tissue-like expression pattern for ADH3 can be generated from the culture of various oral keratinocyte lines in an organotypic state. Similar expression levels among the various cell lines indicate the preservation of ADH3 during malignant transformation, and therefore that NOK, SVpgC2a and SqCC/Y1 represent functional models for in vitro studies of formaldehyde metabolism in human oral mucosa.     

Annexin I and involucrin are cross-linked by particulate transglutaminase into the cornified cell envelope of squamous cell carcinoma Y1.

The squamous cell carcinoma line, SqCC/Y1, like natural squamous epithelia, forms a cornified cell envelope during differentiation which can be directly correlated with an increase in particulate transglutaminase activity. When transglutaminase is activated in these cells by calcium ionophore X-537A, annexin I and involucrin become incorporated into the cornified cell envelope and cannot be extracted with solutions containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and beta-mercaptoethanol. This effect is specific for annexin I; thus, the amounts of annexins II and IV that were extractable from cells by SDS and beta-mercaptoethanol did not change following treatment with ionophore X-537A. Annexin I could be cross-linked in vitro to itself and to other endogenous proteins by transglutaminase extracted from the particulate fraction of SqCC/Y1 cells. Immunofluorescence studies showed that cross-linked annexin I and involucrin form an envelope-like structure in SqCC/Y1 cells during differentiation that cannot be extracted by EGTA and Triton X-100. The amount of staining of this envelope structure corresponded directly to the particulate transglutaminase activity of these cells. Annexin I monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies were shown to bind to purified cornified cell envelopes from SqCC/Y1. These studies suggest that particulate transglutaminase regulates a function of annexin I during the differentiation of SqCC/Y1 cells by covalently cross-linking this protein into the cornified cell envelope.     

Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Oral Brush Biopsies Identifies Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor as a Promising,Mechanism-Based Oral Cancer Biomarker

A decrease in the almost fifty percent mortality rate from oral cancer is needed urgently. Improvements in early diagnosis and more effective preventive treatments could affect such a decrease. Towards this end, we undertook for the first time an in-depth mass spectrometry-based quantitative shotgun proteomics study of non-invasively collected oral brush biopsies. Proteins isolated from brush biopsies from healthy normal tissue, oral premalignant lesion tissue (OPMLs), oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and matched control tissue were compared. In replicated proteomic datasets, the secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) protein stood out based on its decrease in abundance in both OPML and OSCC lesion tissues compared to healthy normal tissue. Western blotting in additional brushed biopsy samples confirmed a trend of gradual decreasing SLPI abundance between healthy normal and OPML tissue, with a larger decrease in OSCC lesion tissue. A similar SLPI decrease was observed in-vitro comparing model OPML and OSCC cell lines. In addition, exfoliated oral cells in patients’ whole saliva showed a loss of SLPI correlated with oral cancer progression. These results, combined with proteomics data indicating a decrease in SLPI in matched healthy control tissue from OSCC patients compared to tissue from healthy normal tissue, suggested a systemic decrease of SLPI in oral cells correlated with oral cancer development. Finally, in-vitro experiments showed that treatment with SLPI significantly decreased NF-kB activity in an OPML cell line. The findings indicate anti-inflammatory activity in OPML, supporting a mechanistic role of SLPI in OSCC progression and suggesting its potential for preventative treatment of at-risk oral lesions. Collectively, our results show for the first time the potential for SLPI as a mechanism-based, non-invasive biomarker of oral cancer progression with potential in preventive treatment.     

Role of protein kinase N2 (PKN2) in cigarette smoke-mediated oncogenic transformation of oral cells

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. Though cigarette smoke is an established cause of head and neck cancer (including oral cancer), molecular alterations associated with chronic cigarette smoke exposure are poorly studied. To understand the signaling alterations induced by chronic exposure to cigarette smoke, we developed a cell line model by exposing normal oral keratinocytes to cigarette smoke for a period of 12 months. Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke resulted in increased cellular proliferation and invasive ability of oral keratinocytes. Proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses showed dysregulation of several proteins involved in cellular movement and cytoskeletal reorganization in smoke exposed cells. We observed overexpression and hyperphosphorylation of protein kinase N2 (PKN2) in smoke exposed cells as well as in a panel of head and neck cancer cell lines established from smokers. Silencing of PKN2 resulted in decreased colony formation, invasion and migration in both smoke exposed cells and head and neck cancer cell lines. Our results indicate that PKN2 plays an important role in oncogenic transformation of oral keratinocytes in response to cigarette smoke. The current study provides evidence that PKN2 can act as a potential therapeutic target in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, especially in patients with a history of smoking.     

Isolation and characterization of the major form of human MUC18 cDNA gene and correlation of MUC18 over-expression in prostate cancer cell lines and tissues with malignant progression.

Ectopical expression of huMUC18, a cell adhesion molecule in the immunoglobulin gene superfamily, causes a non-metastatic human melanoma cell line to become metastatic in a nude mouse system. To determine if MUC18 expression correlates with the development and malignant progression of prostate cancer, we investigated differential expression of human MUC18 (huMUC18) in normal prostate epithelial cells, prostate cancer cell lines, and prostatic normal and cancer tissues. We cloned and characterized the human MUC18 (huMUC18) cDNA gene from three human prostate cancer cell lines and three human melanoma cell lines. The cDNA sequences from the six human cancer cell lines were identical except differences in one to five nucleotides. The deduced amino acid sequences of the longest ORF were 646 amino acids that were identical in these cDNAs except for one to three amino acid residues. The amino acid sequences of all our huMUC18 cDNA genes are similar to that cloned by other group (GenBank access #M28882) except differences in the same seven amino acids. We conclude that huMUC18 cDNA gene reported here represents the gene product from a major allele. The MUC18 mRNA and protein was expressed in three metastatic prostate cancer cell lines (TSU-PR1, DU145, and PC-3), but not in one non-metastatic prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP.FGC). The expression of huMUC18 in these four cell lines is positively related to their extent of in vitro motility and invasiveness and in vivo metastasis in nude mice. HuMUC18 protein was also expressed at high levels in extracts prepared from tissue sample sections containing high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), but weakly expressed in extracts prepared from cultured primary normal prostatic epithelial cells and the normal prostate gland. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that huMUC18 was expressed at higher levels in the epithelial cells of high-grade PIN and prostatic carcinomas, and in cells of a perineural invasion, a lymph node, and a lung metastases compared to that in normal or benign hyperplastic epithelium (BPH). We therefore conclude that MUC18 expression is increased during prostate cancer initiation (high grade PIN) and progression to carcinoma, and in metastatic cell lines and metastatic carcinoma. Increased expression of MUC18 is implicated to play an important role in developing and malignant progression of human prostate cancer. Furthermore, the lacking of predominant cytoplasmic membrane expression of MUC18 appeared to correlate with malignant progression of prostate cancer.     

Role of lipocortin I in the glucocorticoid induction of the terminal differentiation of a human squamous carcinoma

The human squamous cell carcinoma SqCC/Y1 undergoes spontaneous terminal differentiation in the confluent state. The degree of maturation was markedly increased by glucocorticoids and by both human recombinant and placental lipocortin I. Western analyses demonstrated cellular secretion of lipocortin into the medium. Glucocorticoid-induced maturation was antagonized by a lipocortin I-specific monoclonal antibody, by phospholipase A2 (PLA2), and by arachidonic acid. Induction of the differentiation of SqCC/Y1 cells by lipocortin I was prevented by arachidonic acid. The PLA2 inhibitor, dibromoacetophenone, caused an increase in envelope-competent cells indicating that inhibition of PLA2 results in induction of differentiation. Epidermal growth factor prevented the induction of differentiation by both lipocortin I and by glucocorticoids. The nonsteroidal lipoxygenase/cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, phenidone, also increased SqCC/Y1 differentiation, suggesting that leukotrienes, thromboxanes, and/or prostaglandins may be involved in lipocortin-mediated regulation of SqCC/Y1 maturation. The findings support a role for lipocortin I in mediating the effects of glucocorticoids on epidermal cell differentiation.     

Induction of the terminal differentiation of a human squamous cell carcinoma by steroids with glucocorticoid activity

SqCC/Y1, a human malignant squamous cell carcinoma, spontaneously differentiates when grown to confluence in delipidized serum-containing medium, as measured by the capacity to form detergent-insoluble cornified cell envelopes. Thus, 30% of SqCC/Y1 cells spontaneously attained the differentiated state after 6 days in culture. Exposure of SqCC/Y1 cells to 30, 100, or 300 nM hydrocortisone increased the number of mature cells, producing a 25, 100, and 225%, respective, increase in the number of differentiated cells over the spontaneous rate of maturation. Retinoic acid at levels of 3-300 nM was inhibitory, causing a 24-85% decrease in the number of differentiated cells. Simultaneous treatment with hydrocortisone and retinoic acid indicated mutual antagonism of the effects of these agents on the formation of cornified envelopes. Since hydrocortisone possesses antiangiogenic (AG), mineralocorticoid (MC) and glucocorticoid (GC) activities, steroids with different degrees of GC, MC, and AG potency were examined for their capacities to induce terminal differentiation. Only steroids with GC activity, such as dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, and RU-28362, were capable of increasing the degree of SqCC/Y1 differentiation and antagonizing the inhibitory effects of retinoic acid on the maturation process. In addition, the GC antagonist, RU-38486, reversed the stimulation of cellular differentiation produced by the glucocorticoids. The findings indicate that GC activity is required for the steroid-induced terminal differentiation of SqCC/Y1 cells.     

A putative novel protein,DEPDC1B,is overexpressed in oral cancer patients,and enhanced anchorage-independent growth in oral cancer cells that is mediated by Rac1 and ERK

Background

The DEP domain is a globular domain containing approximately 90 amino acids, which was first discovered in 3 proteins: Drosophila disheveled, Caenorhabditis elegans EGL-10, and mammalian Pleckstrin; hence the term, DEP. DEPDC1B is categorized as a potential Rho GTPase-activating protein. The function of the DEP domain in signal transduction pathways is not fully understood. The DEPDC1B protein exhibits the characteristic features of a signaling protein, and contains 2 conserved domains (DEP and RhoGAP) that are involved in Rho GTPase signaling. Small GTPases, such as Rac, CDC42, and Rho, regulate a multitude of cell events, including cell motility, growth, differentiation, cytoskeletal reorganization and cell cycle progression.

Results

In this study, we found that it was a guanine nucleotide exchange factor and induced both cell migration in a cultured embryonic fibroblast cell line and cell invasion in cancer cell lines; moreover, it was observed to promote anchorage-independent growth in oral cancer cells. We also demonstrated that DEPDC1B plays a role in regulating Rac1 translocated onto cell membranes, suggesting that DEPDC1B exerts a biological function by regulating Rac1. We examined oral cancer tissue; 6 out of 7 oral cancer tissue test samples overexpressed DEPDC1B proteins, compared with normal adjacent tissue.

Conclusions

DEPDC1B was a guanine nucleotide exchange factor and induced both cell migration in a cultured embryonic fibroblast cell line and cell invasion in cancer cell lines; moreover, it was observed to promote anchorage-independent growth in oral cancer cells. We also demonstrated that DEPDC1B exerts a biological function by regulating Rac1. We found that oral cancer samples overexpressed DEPDC1B proteins, compared with normal adjacent tissue. Suggest that DEPDC1B plays a role in the development of oral cancer. We revealed that proliferation was linked to a novel DEPDC1B-Rac1-ERK1/2 signaling axis in oral cancer cell lines.     

Transforming growth factor‐β1 modulates metalloproteinase‐2 and ‐9, nitric oxide,RhoA and α‐smooth muscle actin expression in colon adenocarcinoma cells

Colon carcinoma invasiveness is a process involving cell–cell and cell–matrix alterations, local proteolysis of the ECM (extracellular matrix) or changes in cytokine and growth factor levels. In order to evaluate the role of TGF‐β1 (transforming growth factor‐β1) and small G protein RhoA in tumour progression, the influence of TGF‐β1 treatment or RhoA‐associated kinase inhibitor on the production of NO (nitric oxide) and MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 (metalloproteinases‐2 and ‐9) was analysed in three human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (HT29, LS180, SW948) representing different stages of tumour development. All the tested cell lines produced low amounts of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9. rhTGF‐β1 and the synthetic Rho kinase inhibitor (Y‐27632) decreased MMP‐2 secretion by colon cancer cells, especially in the most advanced stage of colon cancer. rhTGF‐β1 decreased NO secretion by cells, while Y‐27632 had no effect on it. Immunoblotting with anti‐RhoA antibodies followed by densitometry revealed that RhoA levels were slightly increased after incubation of colon carcinoma cells (SW948) with rhTGF‐β1. rhTGF‐β1 induced α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) expression, especially in high Duke's grade of colon cancer, while Y‐27632 blocked it. Summing up, in colon carcinoma cells, TGF‐β1 and RhoA protein may regulate tumour invasiveness measured as MMP, NO and α‐SMA expression or assayed using motility data and may be a good target for cancer therapy.     

Agrin and Perlecan Mediate Tumorigenic Processes in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of cancer in the oral cavity, representing more than 90% of all oral cancers. The characterization of altered molecules in oral cancer is essential to understand molecular mechanisms underlying tumor progression as well as to contribute to cancer biomarker and therapeutic target discovery. Proteoglycans are key molecular effectors of cell surface and pericellular microenvironments, performing multiple functions in cancer. Two of the major basement membrane proteoglycans, agrin and perlecan, were investigated in this study regarding their role in oral cancer. Using real time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), we showed that agrin and perlecan are highly expressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Interestingly, cell lines originated from distinct sites showed different expression of agrin and perlecan. Enzymatically targeting chondroitin sulfate modification by chondroitinase, oral squamous carcinoma cell line had a reduced ability to adhere to extracellular matrix proteins and increased sensibility to cisplatin. Additionally, knockdown of agrin and perlecan promoted a decrease on cell migration and adhesion, and on resistance of cells to cisplatin. Our study showed, for the first time, a negative regulation on oral cancer-associated events by either targeting chondroitin sulfate content or agrin and perlecan levels.     

LRRN4 and UPK3B are markers of primary mesothelial cells

Background

Mesothelioma is a highly malignant tumor that is primarily caused by occupational or environmental exposure to asbestos fibers. Despite worldwide restrictions on asbestos usage, further cases are expected as diagnosis is typically 20–40 years after exposure. Once diagnosed there is a very poor prognosis with a median survival rate of 9 months. Considering this the development of early pre clinical diagnostic markers may help improve clinical outcomes.

Methodology

Microarray expression arrays on mesothelium and other tissues dissected from mice were used to identify candidate mesothelial lineage markers. Candidates were further tested by qRTPCR and in-situ hybridization across a mouse tissue panel. Two candidate biomarkers with the potential for secretion, uroplakin 3B (UPK3B), and leucine rich repeat neuronal 4 (LRRN4) and one commercialized mesothelioma marker, mesothelin (MSLN) were then chosen for validation across a panel of normal human primary cells, 16 established mesothelioma cell lines, 10 lung cancer lines, and a further set of 8 unrelated cancer cell lines.

Conclusions

Within the primary cell panel, LRRN4 was only detected in primary mesothelial cells, but MSLN and UPK3B were also detected in other cell types. MSLN was detected in bronchial epithelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells and UPK3B was detected in retinal pigment epithelial cells and urothelial cells. Testing the cell line panel, MSLN was detected in 15 of the 16 mesothelioma cells lines, whereas LRRN4 was only detected in 8 and UPK3B in 6. Interestingly MSLN levels appear to be upregulated in the mesothelioma lines compared to the primary mesothelial cells, while LRRN4 and UPK3B, are either lost or down-regulated. Despite the higher fraction of mesothelioma lines positive for MSLN, it was also detected at high levels in 2 lung cancer lines and 3 other unrelated cancer lines derived from papillotubular adenocarcinoma, signet ring carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma.     

Identification of 14‐3‐3zeta associated protein networks in oral cancer

Advancements in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics have improved our understanding of gene/protein networks involved in intra‐ and intercellular communication and tumor–host interactions. Using proteomics integrated with bioinformatics, previously we reported overexpression of 14‐3‐3ζ in premalignant oral lesions and oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues in comparison with normal oral epithelium. 14‐3‐3ζ emerged as a novel molecular target for therapeutics and a potential prognostic marker in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. However, the role of 14‐3‐3ζ in development and progression of oral cancer is not known yet. This study aimed to identify the 14‐3‐3ζ associated protein networks in oral cancer cell lines using IP–MS/MS and bioinformatics. A total of 287 binding partners of 14‐3‐3ζ were identified in metastatic (MDA1986) and nonmetastatic (SCC4) oral cancer cell lines including other 14‐3‐3 isoforms (2%), proteins involved in apoptosis (2%), cytoskeleton (9%), metabolism (16%), and maintenance of redox potential (2%). Our bioinformatics analysis revealed involvement of 14‐3‐3ζ in protein networks regulating cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, cellular trafficking, and endocytosis in oral cancer. In conclusion, our data revealed several novel protein interaction networks involving 14‐3‐3ζ in oral cancer progression and metastasis.     

Functional evidence for a second tumor suppressor gene on human chromosome 17.

The development and progression of human tumors often involves inactivation of tumor suppressor gene function. Observations that specific chromosome deletions correlate with distinct groups of cancer suggest that some types of tumors may share common defective tumor suppressor genes. In support of this notion, our initial studies showed that four human carcinoma cell lines belong to the same complementation group for tumorigenic potential. In this investigation, we have extended these studies to six human soft tissue sarcoma cell lines. Our data showed that hybrid cells between a peripheral neuroepithelioma (PNET) cell line and normal human fibroblasts or HeLa cells were nontumorigenic. However, hybrid cells between the PNET cell line and five other soft tissue sarcoma cell lines remained highly tumorigenic, suggesting at least one common genetic defect in the control of tumorigenic potential in these cells. To determine the location of this common tumor suppressor gene, we examined biochemical and molecular polymorphic markers in matched pairs of tumorigenic and nontumorigenic hybrid cells between the PNET cell line and a normal human fibroblast. The data showed that loss of the fibroblast-derived chromosome 17 correlated with the conversion from nontumorigenic to tumorigenic cells. Transfer of two different chromosome 17s containing a mutant form of the p53 gene into the PNET cell line caused suppression of tumorigenic potential, implying the presence of a second tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 17.     

Mutagenicity of the oral carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide in cultured BigBlue rat tongue epithelial cells and fibroblasts

Environmental carcinogen exposures contribute to the development of oral cancer and improved test systems for the analysis of such carcinogens are needed. We have previously isolated and characterized an epithelial cell line from the tongue of a BigBlue rat. Now, we have established an immortalized fibroblast cell line from the same organ. We exposed these cells to 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (NQO), a well-known experimental oral carcinogen in the rat and other species, and measured its cytotoxic and genotoxic (cII transgene mutagenesis) effects. Both cell lines were very sensitive to NQO toxicity and showed dose-dependent mutant frequency responses. At the highest NQO dose tested, 70 ng/ml, the mutant frequency was elevated more than eight-fold above background for the epithelial cells and more than 25-fold for the fibroblast cells. We examined cellular parameters which could affect glutathione-dependent detoxication of mutagens. Glutathione (GSH) contents of the two cell lines were similar. Glutathione transferase (GST) activities were measured with several substrates and were generally higher in the epithelial cells. Although multiple biochemical and biological characteristics of individual cell lines are likely to determine responses to mutagens, the greater sensitivity of the fibroblast cells to NQO mutagenicity is in accord with the lower GST activity and the lower DNA content of these cells. These new cell lines are suitable for in vitro testing of chemicals as possible oral mutagens and for studies of their biochemical mechanisms of action.     

Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Ubiquitin-specific protease 14, a deubiquitinating enzyme, has been implicated in the tumorigenesis and progression of several cancers, but its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to explore the expression pattern and roles of Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 in the occurrence and development of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Interestingly, Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 was overexpressed in oral cancer tissues and cell lines at both mRNA and protein levels. b-AP15, a specific inhibitor of Ubiquitin-specific protease 14, significantly inhibited the growth of cancer cells and increased cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, knockdown of Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 by shRNA significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of cancer cells in vitro. Finally, using a xenograft mouse model of oral squamous cell carcinoma, knockdown of Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 markedly inhibited tumor growth and triggered the cancer cell apoptosis in vivo, supporting previous results. In conclusion, for the first time we have demonstrated the expression pattern of Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 in oral squamous cell carcinoma and verified a relationship with tumor growth and metastasis. These results may highlight new therapeutic strategies for tumor treatment, application of Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 selective inhibitor, such as b-AP15, or knockdown by shRNA. Collectively, Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 could be a potential therapeutic target for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.     

p21活化激酶1在口腔癌细胞侵袭和迁移中的作用

p21活化激酶1(PAK1)与多种癌症类型的进展有关,然而,其在口腔癌中的作用仍不明确。本研究以人舌鳞状细胞癌(oral squamous cell carcinoma,OSCC)HSC4细胞系为研究材料,考察了PAK1在细胞系中的定位及血清生长因子对PAK1定位的影响。通过转染PAK1 siRNA来敲低OSCC细胞中的PAK1,并分析PAK1敲低对细胞侵袭和迁移性的影响。研究发现PAK1在人舌鳞状细胞癌细胞系HSC4中主要定位于细胞核,而血清生长因子可调节PAK1在不同亚细胞区域中的易位或积累,并且还可能影响OSCC细胞的细胞骨架结构。此外,敲低PAK1可显著抑制OSCC细胞的迁移和侵袭能力,表明PAK1在OSCC发生发展过程中起着至关重要的作用。     

Expression of endothelin 1 and endothelin A receptor in HPV-associated cervical carcinoma: new potential targets for anticancer therapy.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are associated with cervical cancer and interact with growth factors that may enhance malignant transformation of cervical carcinoma cells. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is released from HPV transfected keratinocytes and induces increased growth response in these cell lines in comparison with normal cells. In the present study several cervical carcinoma cell lines have been analyzed to investigate the expression of ET-1 and its receptors as well as their involvement in tumor growth. All HPV-positive cancer cells secreted ET-1 and expressed mRNA for ET-1 and its receptors, whereas a HPV-negative carcinoma cell line expressed only the ETBR mRNA and didn't secrete ET-1. Binding studies showed that HPV-associated cells expressed an increased number of functional ETAR. ET-1 stimulated a marked dose-dependent increase in [3H]-thymidine incorporation with respect to the normal cells whereas ET-3 and ETBR agonists had no effect. In HPV-positive cancer cells, a specific antagonist of ETAR inhibited the proliferation induced by ET-1 and substantially reduced the basal growth rate of unstimulated cervical tumor cells, whereas the ETBR antagonist had no effect. These results demonstrate that ET-1 participates in the progression of neoplastic growth in HPV-associated carcinoma, in which ETAR are increased and could be targeted for antitumor therapy.