Expression of transglutaminase K in normal cervix tissue and cervix carcinomas

The localization and expression of transglutaminase K has been investigated immunohistochemically in normal cervix tissue (n = 15) and in cervix carci nomas (n = 23). The distribution of the transglutaminase K was compared wit h the staining patterns of cytokeratin 10, Ki-67, p53, and oestrogen and pr ogesterone receptors in these tumours. Weak to strong membrane-bound immuno reactivity for transglutaminase K was detected in almost all cervix carcino mas analyzed. The immunostaining was heterogeneous, with visual differences between individual tumour cells. 66.7% of normal cervix tissues revealed n o immunoreactivity for the transglutaminase K. In normal cervix tissue, the immunoreactivity was confined to upper cervix layers, predominantly to the superficial and intermediate cell layers. The intensity of both the immuno staining and the number of transglutaminase K-positive cells were upregulat ed in cervix carcinomas as compared to normal cervix tissue. When the coexp ressions of transglutaminase K with markers of proliferation and differenti ation were analyzed, no statistically significant correlation was found. Ou r findings indicate that (1) transglutaminase K is upregulated at the prote in level in cervix carcinomas as compared to normal cervix tissue; (2) upre gulation of the transglutaminase K in cervix carcinoma is not exclusively i nduced by alterations of epithelial differentiation or proliferation, but b y different, unknown mechanisms; and (3) upregulation of transglutaminase K in cervix carcinomas may play an important role for the regulation of tumo ur invasive properties by modulating cell-cell interactions.The localizatio n and expression of transglutaminase K has been investigated immunohistoche mically in normal cervix tissue (n=15) and in cervix carcinomas (n=23). The distribution of the transglutaminase K was compared with the staining patt erns of cytokeratin 10, Ki-67, p53, and oestrogen and progesterone receptor s in these tumours. Weak to strong membrane-bound immunoreactivity for tran sglutaminase K was detected in almost all cervix carcinomas analyzed. The i mmunostaining was heterogeneous, with visual differences between individual tumour cells. 66.7% of normal cervix tissues revealed no immunoreactivity for the transglutaminase K. In normal cervix tissue, the immunoreactivity w as confined to upper cervix layers, predominantly to the superficial and in termediate cell layers. The intensity of both the immunostaining and the nu mber of transglutaminase K-positive cells were upregulated in cervix carcin omas as compared to normal cervix tissue. When the coexpressions of transgl utaminase K with markers of proliferation and differentiation were analyzed , no statistically significant correlation was found. Our findings indicate that (1) transglutaminase K is upregulated at the protein level in cervix carcinomas as compared to normal cervix tissue; (2) upregulation of the tra nsglutaminase K in cervix carcinoma is not exclusively induced by alteratio ns of epithelial differentiation or proliferation, but by different, unknow n mechanisms; and (3) upregulation of transglutaminase K in cervix carcinom as may play an important role for the regulation of tumour invasive propert ies by modulating cell-cell interactions.