Effects of decreased Rac activity and malignant state on oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro

Rac proteins, members of the Rho family small GTP-binding have been implicated in transducing a number signals for various biological mechanisms, including cell cytoskeleton organization, transcription, proliferation, migration, and cancer motility. Among human cancers, proteins are highly activated by either overexpression genes, up-regulation protein, or mutations that allow protein to elude normal regulatory signaling pathways. involved controlling survival apoptosis. The effects inhibition Rac-specific molecule inhibitor NSC23766 transfection dominant negative (Rac-DN) were examined on three human-derived oral squamous carcinoma lines exhibit different malignancy grades, OSC-20 (grade 3), OSC-19 4C), HOC313 4D). Upon suppression Rac, cells showed significant decreases activity resulted condensation nuclei c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), leading caspase-dependent In contrast, only slight decrease activity, which activation JNK no change nuclei. Fibroblasts treated with also activity. Our results indicated apoptosis elicited depended extent decreased malignant state carcinoma. addition, strongly correlated may represent novel therapeutic approach treatment.