Expression of Ubiquitin C-Terminal Hydrolase-L1 in Minor Normal Salivary Gland Tissues in Perilesional Area to OSCC

Abstract

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), is a deubiquitinating enzyme. Certain changes in ubiquitination attribute to uncontrolled growth, leading to oncogenesis. The aim of this study was to characterize UCH-L1 expression patterns in normal looking human minor salivary gland tissues in the perilesional area of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). A retrospective study in which UCH-L1 immunohistochemical staining performed for 27 formalin fixed paraffin embedded blocks of surgically removed primary OSCC containing perilesional minor salivary gland tissues. The expression, subcellular localization, pattern of distribution, and stain intensity were assessed. UCH-L1 was immunopositive in minor salivary gland tissues of all sections. The immunoreactivity was (70.4%) detected in the cytoplasm and (29.6%) as mixed expression (cytoplasm and nucleus). UCH-L1 was predominately expressed in the ductal system (40.7%), followed by the myoepithelial cells (33.35%), while it was weakly expressed in the acinar cells; mucous (14.9%) and serous acini (11.1%). UCH-L1 expression is detectable in minor salivary glands in a perilesional area of OSCC, Although previously approved that it was absolutely absent in normal salivary gland tissues, it may activate during the course of oncogenesis and can be classified as a marker for predicting the future invasion of OSCC to adjacent minor salivary gland tissues. This study provides evidence for additional studies on the UCH-L1 expression in normal salivary glands in patients with maxillofacial tumorigenesis.