Objective: To elucidate the relationship between the expression of nuclear retinoic acid receptor beta (RAR beta) mRNA in oral carcinogenesis and squamous cell aberrant differentiation.
Methods: A total of 69 rat tongue carcinogenesis specimens induced by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) were detected for RAR beta mRNA by in situ hybridization.
Results: With the progress of tongue carcinogenesis and epithelium cell disdifferentiation, the expression of RAR beta mRNA was down-regulated. The positive rate of RAR beta mRNA in normal, hyperplasia, mild-moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia, in situ carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma was 100.0%, 87.5%, 75.0%, 72.2%, 45.5% and 18.8%, respectively.
Conclusions: The down-regulation of RAR beta mRNA may be associated with the epithelium cell aberrant differentiation and may be an important molecular mechanism of oral carcinogenesis.