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VEGF-C expression in oral cancer by neurotransmitter-induced activation of beta-adrenergic receptors

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Tumor Biology

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor type C (VEGF-C) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines through norepinephrine-induced activation of beta-adrenergic receptors. Human OSCC cell lines (SCC-9 and SCC-25) expressing beta-adrenergic receptors were stimulated with different concentrations of norepinephrine (0.1, 1, and 10 μM) and 1 μM of propranolol, and analyzed after 1, 6, and 24 h. VEGF-C gene expression and VEGF-C production in the cell supernatant were evaluated by real-time PCR and by ELISA, respectively. The results showed that beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation by different concentrations of norepinephrine or blocking by propranolol did not markedly alter VEGF-C expression by SCC-9 and SCC-25 cells. VEGF-C protein levels produced by oral malignant cell lines after stimulation with different norepinephrine concentrations or blocking with propranolol was statistically similar (p > 0.05) to those of the control group (nonstimulated OSCC cell lines). Our findings suggest that stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors by means of norepinephrine does not seem to modulate the VEGF-C expression in OSCC cell lines. These findings reinforce the need for further studies in order to understand the responsiveness of oral cancer to beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation or blockage, especially with regard to VEGF-C production.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq; grant nos. 476139/2010-4 and 500991/2010-3) and by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP grant no. 2010/06333-3 and FAPESP Pos-doctoral fellowship (DGB) no. 2010/51361-5). The authors thank to Ms. Fátima Aparecida Silveira Camargo for the technical support provided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Stomatology, Area of Pathology, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Alameda Octávio Pinheiro Brisolla, 9-75, 17012-901, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil

    Bruna Maria Rodrigues Vilardi, Diego Mauricio Bravo-Calderón & Denise Tostes Oliveira

  2. Oral Oncology Center and Department of Pathology and Clinical Propedeutics, School of Dentistry of Araçatuba, Univ. Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil

    Daniel Galera Bernabé

  3. Department of Basic Science, School of Dentistry of Araçatuba, Univ. Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil

    Sandra Helena Penha Oliveira

Authors
  1. Bruna Maria Rodrigues Vilardi
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  2. Diego Mauricio Bravo-Calderón
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  3. Daniel Galera Bernabé
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  4. Sandra Helena Penha Oliveira
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  5. Denise Tostes Oliveira
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Denise Tostes Oliveira.

Additional information

Bruna Maria Rodrigues Vilardi and Daniel Galera Bernabé contributed equally to this work.

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Vilardi, B.M.R., Bravo-Calderón, D.M., Bernabé, D.G. et al. VEGF-C expression in oral cancer by neurotransmitter-induced activation of beta-adrenergic receptors. Tumor Biol. 34, 139–143 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-012-0521-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-012-0521-1

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