LOCALIZATION OF E-CADHERIN ADHESION MOLECULES IN HUMAN GINGIVA AND GINGIVAL CARCINOMA

Immunohistochemical investigations were carried out on the localizatio n and expression of the Ca2+-dependent intercellular adhesion molecule E-cadherin in human gingiva and gingival carcinoma. Although E-cadher in did not appear in the parakeratinized layer of either clinically he althy or inflamed gingiva, it did appear strongly in the prickle layer and somewhat more weakly in the basal layer. Immunogold particles rea ctive to anti-E-cadherin monoclonal antibody in the electron microscop ic findings were localized only in the vicinity of the desmosomes of t he prickle and basal layers. In the case of gingival carcinoma, althou gh E-cadherin was strongly expressed in the cells surrounding the kera tinized region in the cancer nests, the expression decreased towards t he marginal portion of the cancer nests. The distribution of E-cadheri n in these cells may be dependent on the condition of the cancer cells that are potentially invasive. These findings suggest that cells of t he parakeratinized layer of gingiva and cells of the marginal portion of the gingival carcinoma nests may easily detach or invade. In additi on, the findings suggest that the gingival carcinoma used in this stud y tended to be invasive.