Down-regulation of mitochondrial NADH and cytochrome b gene associated with high tumor stages in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Publication date: Available online 10 January 2019

Source: Archives of Oral Biology

Author(s): Pitsapaporn Wangpermtam, Songsak Petmitr, Phaibul Punyarit, Boworn Klongnoi, Sirima Sanguansin

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to determine mitochondrial mRNA expression levels and the relationships between these expression levels and various adverse clinicopathological characteristics.

Methods

The mRNA expression levels of all 12 genes encoded protein, located on the heavy-strand of mitochondrial DNA including cytochrome b, NADH1, NADH2, NADH3, NADH4, NADH4L, NADH5, ATPase6, ATPase8, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3 were analyzed in 30 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and the corresponding normal tissues using reverse transcriptase quantitative real time PCR. Pearson Chi-square test was used to determine the relationships between these expression levels and categorical parameters.

Results

The expression levels of 12 mitochondrial mRNAs were observed in all 30 HNSCC patients with down-regulation, ranging from 43.3% - 76.7% and up-regulation, ranging from 10.0% – 36.7%. Furthermore, the number of cases with down-regulations in all 6 NADH and cytochrome b mRNA with TMN stages III and IV were significantly higher than that in stages I and II (p=0.049 and 0.007, respectively).

Conclusion

Down-regulation of all mitochondrial NADH mRNA as well as mitochondrial cytochrome b mRNA was associated with high tumor stage among HNSCC patients.

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