Zusammenfassung
Die ultrastrukturelle Morphologie der Gap junctions in malignen Keratinozyten des invasiven Plattenepithelkarzinoms des Kehlkopfes wurde elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Die Ultrastruktur der Gap junctions in den malignen Keratinozyten entsprach derjenigen von typischen interzellulären Gap junctions, wie sie in normalen Geweben beschrieben wurde. Beim Larynxkarzinom war jedoch die Anzahl der Gap junctions im Vergleich zu normalen Epithelien erheblich reduziert. Es wurden auch sphärische intrazytoplasmatische Strukturen beobachtet, die von Gap junctionalen Membranen begrenzt waren. Diese annularen Gap junctions entstehen durch Einstülpungen der Zelloberflächenmembran. Der Verlust der Gap junctions beim Larynxkarzinom dürfte eine der vielen Voraussetzungen sein, welche die Tumorinvasion ermöglichen.
Summary
The ultrastructural morphology of gap junctions in malignant keratinocytes of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the human larynx was studied by electron microscopy. The ultrastructure of gap junctions in the malignant keratinocytes was similar to the typical intercellular gap junctions described in normal tissues. In human laryngeal carcinoma, however, the gap junctions were noticeably reduced in number as compared to normal epithelia.
Spherical intracytoplasmic structures limited by gap junctional membranes were also found. These annular gap junctions arise by invagination of the cell surface membrane. The loss of gap junctions in laryngeal carcinoma is probably one of the many prerequisites which facilitate tumor invasion.
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This work was supported by the “Fonds Österreichischer Krebsforschungsinstitute” and by the “Krebsausschuß der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Wien”
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Schenk, P. Gap junctions in laryngeal carcinoma. Arch Otorhinolaryngol 228, 51–56 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00455894
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00455894