Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2007 Oct;50(10):1378-1385.

Expression of claudin-1, claudin-4 and zonula occludens-1 in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive squamous cell carcinoma

• Lee SK
• Rho HK
• Park TY
• Kang KH
• Cho TI
• Lee TJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Cell to cell and cell to extracellular matrix interaction are crucial in tumor development and progression. Tight junction proteins such as claudins and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) play an important role in these processes. This study was performed to investigate the difference of expressions of claudin-1, claudin-4 and ZO-1 in low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (ISCC) of the uterine cervix.
METHODS
The expressions of claudin-1, claudin-4 and ZO-1 were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining in 78 cervical tissue specimens (LSIL 22 case, HSIL 36 case, and ISCC 20 case).
RESULTS
Claudin-1 expression was positive in 40.9% of LSIL, in 94.0% of HSIL and in 20.0% of ISCC. The expression of claudin-1 was significantly high in HSIL (p=0.0001). Claudin-4 expression was positive in 31.8% of LSIL, in 41.7% of HSIL and in 25.0% of ISCC. The expression of claudin-4 was high in HSIL, but it was not statistically different. ZO-1 expression was positive in 13.6% of LSIL, in 41.7% of HSIL, and in 25.5% of ISCC. The expression of ZO-1 was significantly high in HSIL (p=0.011).
CONCLUSION
These results indicate increased expressions of claudin-1 and ZO-1 in the HSIL that includes cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 and 3, which decrease during progression to cervical cancer.

Keyword

Claudin-1; Claudin-4; ZO-1; CIN; Cervical Cancer

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*
Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia*
Cervix Uteri
Claudin-1*
Claudin-4*
Claudins
Extracellular Matrix
Female
Tight Junction Proteins
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
Claudin-1
Claudin-4
Claudins
Tight Junction Proteins