- Research
- Open Access
Alterations of GPI transamidase subunits in head and neck squamous carcinoma
https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-4598-6-74
© Jiang et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2007
- Received: 31 July 2007
- Accepted: 21 November 2007
- Published: 21 November 2007
Abstract
Background
GPI anchor attachment is catalyzed by the GPI transamidase (GPIT) complex. GAA1, PIG-T and PIG-U are the three of five GPIT subunits. Previous studies demonstrated amplification and overexpression of GPIT subunits in bladder and breast cancer with oncogenic function. We performed an analysis of these subunits in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
Results
To evaluate GAA1, PIG-T and PIG-U in HNSCC, we used quantitative PCR (QPCR) and quantitative RT-PCR (QRT-PCR) to determine the copy number of those genes in primary tumors and the matching lymphocytes in 28 patients with HNSCC and quantified RNA expression of those genes in 16 primary HNSCC patients and 4 normal control tissue samples. GAA1 showed a significant increase in normalized mRNA expression, 2.11 (95% CI: 1.43, 2.79), in comparison to that of normal controls, 0.43 (95% CI: -0.76, 1.61), p = 0.014 (Mann-Whitney test). The mean genomic copy number of GAA1 was significantly increased in HNSCC, 0.59 (95% CI: 0.50, 0.79), in comparison to lymphocyte DNA, 0.35 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.50), p = 0.001 (paired t-test).
Conclusion
An increased expression level and elevated copy number for GAA1 suggest a role for this GPI anchor subunit in HNSCC.
Keywords
- Copy Number Alteration
- Elevated Copy Number
- Mammalian Fatty Acid
- Oral Mucosal Biopsy
- Cutaneous Keratinocyte
Background
HNSCC has an annual incidence of over than 40,000 cases per year in United States and is characterized by local tumor aggressiveness, a high rate of early recurrences, and development of second primary carcinomas [1]. Despite modern therapeutic strategies, overall 5-year survival rate does have only modestly improved.
Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring is a membrane attachment mechanism for cell surface proteins widely used in eukaryotes. GPI anchor attachment is catalyzed by GPI transamidase (GPIT) complex, which is composed of at least five subunits: Phosphatidylinositol Glycan Class U (PIG-U), Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Anchor Attachment Protein 1 (GAA1), Phosphatidylinositol Glycan Class K (Gpi8), Phosphatidylinositol Glycan Class S (PIG-S), Phosphatidylinositol Glycan Class T (PIG-T) [2–11]. All of the subunits are required for GPIT to function [3, 6–8]. Gpi8 is the likely enzymatic component of the GPIT complex and can be cross-linked to proproteins [5, 8, 12–14]. GAA1 is able to assemble into PIG-U-containing GPIT complexes that are capable of interacting with a proprotein substrate, and this subunit also is critical in GPI recognition by GPIT [15]. PIG-U contains a sequence motif found in yeast and mammalian fatty acid elongases. This motif has been suggested to play a role in recognizing long chain fatty acids in GPI [3], and PIG-T contains endoplasmic reticulum (ER) localization information.
In a previous study amplification of PIG-U was noted in the bladder cancer, and was found to contribute to an oncogenic phenotype [16]. A recent study showed PIG-T and GPAA1 were overexpressed in breast cancer cell lines and primary tumors and caused malignant transformation in vitro [17]. Genomic amplification and/or DNA copy number gain are common genetic alterations in cancer that lead to the overexpression of oncogenes [18–20]. PIG-U and PIG-T are located at chromosome 20q and GAA1 is located at chromosome 8q, a chromosomal arm with increased copy number in HNSCC [21, 22]. To evaluate PIG-U, PIG-T and GAA1 as possible oncogene candidates in HNSCC, we employed real-time PCR and real-time RT-PCR to determine copy number and RNA expression of those genes in primary HNSCCs.
Results and discussion
Analysis of mRNA expression of GAA1, PIG-T and PIG-U by QRT-PCR
mRNA Expression Ratio of GAA1, PIGT and PIGU vs β-Actin. The expression differential of GAA1, PIGT and PIGU between normal (health subjects mucosa) and HNSCC was measured by calculating relative fluorescence amplification of transcripts of gene of interests normalized by the corresponding β-Actin signal. N, normal; T, HNSCC.
Analysis of copy number of GAA1, PIG-T and PIG-U by QPCR
Copy number alteration of GAA1, PIG-T and PIG-U in HNSCC
DNA Copy Number Ratio | Number | Mean | Median | 95%CI | p (paired-t test) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Log (GAA1/β-Actin) | Control | 28 | 0.40 | 0.35 | (0.30, 0.50) | 0.001 |
HNSCC | 28 | 0.63 | 0.59 | (0.50, 0.76) | ||
Log (PIG-T/β-Actin) | Control | 28 | 0.34 | 0.28 | (0.24, 0.45) | 0.365 |
HNSCC | 28 | 0.40 | 0.43 | (0.30, 0.50) | ||
Log (PIG-U/β-Actin) | Control | 28 | 0.59 | 0.45 | (0.46, 0.72) | 0.058 |
HNSCC | 28 | 0.74 | 0.64 | (0.61, 0.87) |
Relative DNA copy number of GAA1, PIGT and PIGU in HNSCC. The copy number differential of GAA1, PIGT and PIGU between paired lymphocytes and HNSCC was measured by calculating relative fluorescence amplification of gene of interest normalized by the corresponding β-Actin signal using standard curve method. N, normal; T, HNSCC.
Many membranous enzymes, receptors, differentiation antigens and other biologically active proteins proved to be bound to the plasma membrane by GPI. Recent studies report that there are increased levels of the GPI-anchored adhesion molecules CEACAM5, CEACAM6 and mesothelin in response to forced expression of ΔN-TCF-1B, which could contribute to the induction of effecter molecules potentially relevant for tumor invasion in colorectal carcinomas patients [23]. Notably, our data showed that GAA1 copy numbers were much higher in HNSCC than in control white blood cells. This difference was highly significant, which was corresponded to the elevated RNA expression level in HNSCC patients.
Clinical associations with copy number alterations in GAA1, PIG-T and PIG-U
The effects of clinical parameters on copy number of GAA1
Log (Gaa1/β-Actin) | Number | Mean | Median | 95%CI | p (Mann-Whitney test) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Control | Male | 20 | 0.36 | 0.33 | (0.25, 0.48) | 0.242 |
Female | 8 | 0.49 | 0.39 | (0.29, 0.70) | ||
HNSCC | Male | 20 | 0.58 | 0.44 | (0.40, 0.75) | 0.025* |
Female | 8 | 0.77 | 0.75 | (0.63, 0.91) | ||
Control | White | 17 | 0.35 | 0.32 | (0.23, 0.46) | 0.165 |
Other | 11 | 0.48 | 0.43 | (0.29, 0.68) | ||
HNSCC | White | 17 | 0.52 | 0.48 | (0.42, 0.63) | 0.095 |
Other | 11 | 0.81 | 0.68 | (0.52, 1.09) | ||
Control | OC | 11 | 0.35 | 0.33 | (0.18, 0.53) | |
HP | 3 | 0.46 | 0.43 | (0.05, 0.88) | 0.392 | |
L | 5 | 0.42 | 0.28 | (0.04, 0.80) | 0.865 | |
OP | 9 | 0.43 | 0.38 | (0.22, 0.64) | 0.518 | |
HNSCC | OC | 11 | 0.67 | 0.68 | (0.39, 0.94) | |
HP | 3 | 0.55 | 0.11 | (-0.26, 1.37) | 0.697 | |
L | 5 | 0.65 | 0.61 | (0.37, 0.92) | 0.955 | |
OP | 9 | 0.61 | 0.57 | (0.36, 0.86) | 0.676 |
The effects of clinical parameters on copy number of PIG-T
Log (PIG-T/β-Actin) | Number | Mean | Median | 95%CI | p (Mann-Whitney test) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Control | Male | 20 | 0.28 | 0.25 | (0.15, 0.41) | 0.042* |
Female | 8 | 0.51 | 0.56 | (0.30, 0.72) | ||
HNSCC | Male | 20 | 0.37 | 0.39 | (0.24, 0.49) | 0.222 |
Female | 8 | 0.48 | 0.54 | (0.25, 0.71) | ||
Control | White | 17 | 0.33 | 0.44 | (0.18, 0.47) | 0.621 |
Other | 11 | 0.37 | 0.26 | (0.18, 0.57) | ||
HNSCC | White | 17 | 0.40 | 0.45 | (0.29, 0.51) | 0.621 |
Other | 11 | 0.40 | 0.41 | (0.16, 0.63) | ||
Control | OC | 11 | 0.39 | 0.43 | (0.18, 0.61) | |
HP | 3 | 0.46 | 0.54 | (-0.40, 1.33) | 0.938 | |
L | 5 | 0.35 | 0.25 | (-0.01, 0.72) | 0.692 | |
OP | 9 | 0.24 | 0.24 | (0.08, 0.40) | 0.239 | |
HNSCC | OC | 11 | 0.52 | 0.52 | (0.34, 0.70) | |
HP | 3 | 0.44 | 0.10 | (-0.34, 1.22) | 0.586 | |
L | 5 | 0.20 | 0.19 | (-0.08, 0.48) | 0.027* | |
OP | 9 | 0.35 | 0.41 | (0.17, 0.53) | 0.271 |
The effects of clinical parameters on copy number of PIG-U
Log (PIG-U/β-Actin) | Number | Mean | Median | 95%CI | p (Mann-Whitney test) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Control | Male | 20 | 0.56 | 0.43 | (0.39, 0.72) | 0.476 |
Female | 8 | 0.66 | 0.68 | (0.41, 0.92) | ||
HNSCC | Male | 20 | 0.65 | 0.62 | (0.51, 0.80) | 0.053 |
Female | 8 | 0.95 | 0.97 | (0.66, 1.24) | ||
Control | White | 17 | 0.56 | 0.43 | (0.40, 0.71) | 0.655 |
Other | 11 | 0.64 | 0.59 | (0.38, 0.89) | ||
HNSCC | White | 17 | 0.69 | 0.68 | (0.53, 0.86) | 0.466 |
Other | 11 | 0.81 | 0.64 | (0.56, 1.06) | ||
Control | OC | 11 | 0.57 | 0.41 | (0.29, 0.86) | |
HP | 3 | 0.57 | 0.43 | (-0.05, 1.19) | 0.484 | |
L | 5 | 0.62 | 0.59 | (0.27, 0.96) | 0.533 | |
OP | 9 | 0.59 | 0.43 | (0.36, 0.82) | 0.470 | |
HNSCC | OC | 11 | 0.83 | 0.80 | (0.57, 0.10) | |
HP | 3 | 0.68 | 0.54 | (-0.45, 1.81) | 0.586 | |
L | 5 | 0.67 | 0.57 | (0.19, 1.16) | 0.396 | |
OP | 9 | 0.69 | 0.64 | (0.51, 0.86) | 0.425 |
Conclusion
Our data indicate that increasing of copy number and mRNA expression of GAA1 is characteristic for HNSCC and GAA1 play a role for this GPI anchor subunit in HNSCC.
Methods
Subjects
Genomic DNA samples from 28 HNSCC tissues and matching lymphocytes were subjected to QPCR analysis. RNA of tissue samples from 16 microdissected HNSCCs and 4 oral mucosal biopsies of healthy people were subjected to QRT-PCR. All samples were collected at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, after appropriate approval was obtained from the Johns Hopkins institutional review board (IRB approval # 03-04-11-131d).
Cell lines and culture conditions
DNA and RNA from a virally transformed human cutaneous keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) were used as standards for QPCR and QRT-PCR. The HaCaT cell line was grown in DMEM media supplemented with 10% FBS and 1% Penicillin-Streptomycin. Media components were obtained from Gibco Invitrogen Corporation (Carlsbad, CA) and cells were incubated at 37°C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2/95% relative humidity.
Quantitative PCR
PIG-U, PIG-T and GAA1 primer and probe sequences
Gene | Forward Primer | Probe | Reverse Primer |
---|---|---|---|
PIG-U | AGCCCTCCAGCCAGAGTTA | CAGGCGAGTGCTTGGGCAGAAGA | ACTTGTGACCCTGGACTCGAA |
PIG-T | GATCTGCCTCACGTGCACTGT | TGGCCGTGTGCTATGGCTCCTTC | AGGTTCGGGTGAGGAGATTGT |
Gaa1 | CCGGGCTGGGACAGAGA | TCCCCAAGGACCCCATTCTGCC | CAGACACTCATTTATTTCCCCA |
Statistical analysis
The major statistical first endpoint in this study was the comparison of the difference in PIG-U, PIG-T and GAA1 quantitative DNA ratio between lymphocytes DNA and tumor tissue DNA in the HNSCC patients. The second endpoint in this study was PIG-U, PIG-T and GAA1 RNA expression differences between HNSCC patients and normal control subjects. Distributions of PIG-U, PIG-T and GAA1 DNA and RNA quantitative ratios were examined graphically using scatter plots and bar plots with logarithmic scales. Log transformation was chosen for these values and the difference taken for statistical analyses. Paired t-tests were used to determine if these changes were significantly different from each other. All statistical computations were performed using the SPSS system (SPSS, Chicago) and all p values reported are two-sided.
Declarations
Acknowledgements
This investigation was supported by Maryland Cigarette Restitution Fund and NIDCR 1R01DE015939-01 [JC]; NIH Head and Neck SPORE [WHW, WK, DS, and JC]; the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation CI-#9 [JC].
Authors’ Affiliations
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