Abstract
In situ hybridization (ISH) of the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) in areas of local invasion of head and neck tumours was performed. Expression of MMP-1 mRNA was found in stromal inflammatory cells adjacent to the tumour nests, apparently in eosinophils. MMP-1 mRNA expression was seen only in cases with moderate or greater stromal eosinophilia. MMP-1 mRNA was detected in benign papilloma and verrucous carcinoma. In squamous cell carcinomas, expression of the gene was detected only in well-differentiated cases. Expression of MMP-1 mRNA was not related to the grade of malignancy, and appeared in stromal eosinophils, suggesting to us that it is involved in a remodelling process in the reaction of the host to tumour invasion. ISH examination of the expression of interleukin-5 (IL-5), the activating factor for eosinophils, was also performed. In the tumour, its expression was consistent with the location of eosinophils, as with MMP-1 mRNA, suggesting an autocrine mechanism.
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Received: 28 February 1997 / Accepted: 29 April 1997
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Ono, Y., Fujii, M., Kameyama, K. et al. Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 mRNA related to eosinophilia and interleukin-5 gene expression in head and neck tumour tissue. Virchows Archiv 431, 305–310 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004280050103
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004280050103