Evaluation of Elafin Immunohistochemical Expression as Marker of Cervical Cancer Severity
- 3 December 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by S. Karger AG in Acta Cytologica
- Vol. 65 (2), 165-174
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000512010
Abstract
Introduction: The main risk factor for the development of cervical cancer (CC) is persistent infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) oncogenic types. In order to persist, HPV exhibits a plethora of immune evasion mechanisms. PI3/Elafin (Peptidase Inhibitor 3) is an endogenous serine protease inhibitor involved in epithelial protection against pathogens. PI3/Elafin’s role in CC is still poorly understood. Materials and Methods: In the present study, we addressed PI3/Elafin protein detection in 123 CC samples by immunohistochemistry and mRNA expression in several datasets available at Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas platforms. Results: We observed that PI3/Elafin is consistently downregulated in CC samples when compared to normal tissue. Most of PI3/Elafin-positive samples exhibited this protein at the plasma membrane. Besides, high PI3/Elafin expression at the cellular membrane was more frequent in in situ stages I + II than in invasive cervical tumor stages III + IV. This indicates that PI3/Elafin expression is gradually lost during the CC progression. Of note, advanced stages of CC were more frequently associated with a more intense PI3/Elafin reaction in the nuclei and cytoplasm. Conclusion: Our results suggest that PI3/Elafin levels and subcellular localization may be used as a biomarker for CC severity.Keywords
This publication has 38 references indexed in Scilit:
- RKIP Inhibition in Cervical Cancer Is Associated with Higher Tumor Aggressive Behavior and Resistance to Cisplatin TherapyPLOS ONE, 2013
- Elafin, an inhibitor of elastase, is a prognostic indicator in breast cancerBreast Cancer Research, 2013
- Anti-HIV-1 Activity of Elafin Depends on Its Nuclear Localization and Altered Innate Immune Activation in Female Genital Epithelial CellsPLOS ONE, 2012
- HPV16 Oncoproteins Induce MMPs/RECK-TIMP-2 Imbalance in Primary Keratinocytes: Possible Implications in Cervical CarcinogenesisPLOS ONE, 2012
- WAP domain proteins as modulators of mucosal immunityBiochemical Society Transactions, 2011
- The Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitor Elafin Triggers Rb-Mediated Growth Arrest and Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis in Breast CancerCancer Research, 2010
- Analysis of human kallikrein 7 expression as a potential biomarker in cervical neoplasiaInternational Journal of Cancer, 2010
- Characterization of global transcription profile of normal and HPV-immortalized keratinocytes and their response to TNF treatmentBMC Medical Genomics, 2008
- Characterization of human pre-elafin mutants: full antipeptidase activity is essential to preserve lung tissue integrity in experimental emphysemaBiochemical Journal, 2007
- Constitutive and inducible expression of SKALP/elafin provides anti-elastase defense in human epithelia.JCI Insight, 1996