野口 忠秀

Tongue dorsal epithelia exhibit a highly specialized structure. In order to characterize biological features of tongue dorsal epithelia, expression pattern of cytokeratins and adhesion molecules in human normal tongue were analyzed. Positive reaction with monoclonal antibodies for cytokeratins AE 3, AE 5, No.5/6, and 903 was observed in the basal cell layer, the spinous cell layer and the keratinized layer, while CK 1 stained the basal cell layer and the spinous cell layer. Positive reaction with No.4 and No.13 was observed in the spinous cell layer of the interpapillal region, but no reaction was seen in the papillal region. The expression of integrin a2 was observed at the cell membrane of the basal cell layer and the spinous cell layer, and those of as and as were observed at the cell membrane of the basal cell layer in the interpapillal region. However, positive reaction with anti-a5 antibody was also seen in the spinous cell layer as well as basal cell layer in the interpapillal region. The localizations of as and 484 were demonstrated at the basal cell surface of the basal cell layer. The expressions of E-cadherin and desmoglein were observed at the cell membrane of the basal cell layer and the spinous cell layer, while that of P-cadherin in the basal cell layer only. Our results clearly demonstrated that there are significant differences in the expression patterns of cytokeratins and adhesion molecules between the region of papillae and interpapillal epithelia.

A case of verrucous carcinoma of the oral floor which had an excellent response to tegafur alone is reported.<BR>A 76-year-old woman complained of a swelling in the oral floor of 8 months' duration. Oral examination revealed an approximately elliptical tumor that measured 45×20×15mm and extended bilaterally from the oral floor to the alveolar mucosa. Regional lymph nodes were not clinically involved, and no distant metastasis was evident. She was orally administered 600mg per day of tegafur before operation. The tumor was reduced to about half of its primary size 10 days after the start of tegafur treatment. Two months later, no remaining verrucous carcinoma was observed on histologic examination.<BR>There were no noteworthy side effects. There is no evidence of recurrence or metastatic disease as of 28 months after treatment.

W e experienced a case of secondary syphilis in a 31-year-old male with eruption of the oral mucosa. Defined grayish white surfaced erosion with raised margin was observed on the lower lip. Slightly raised grayish white lesion was observed on the apex and bilateral edges of tongue, and a well-defined grayish white lesion with redness on the palate was also observed. The serological tests for syphilis were positive, and Treponema pallidum could be stained by Warthin-Starry method and immunofluorescene technique in the biopsy specimen taken from the lower lip and tongue. After the treatment with AMPC 1.5g/day for 8 weeks, and PCV 1.2 million unit/day for 4 weeks, the oral lesion disappeared in 3 weeks.

Tongue dorsal epithelia exhibit a highly specialized structure. In order to characterize biological features of tongue dorsal epithelia, expression pattern of cytokeratins and adhesion molecules in human normal tongue were analyzed. Positive reaction with monoclonal antibodies for cytokeratins AE 3, AE 5, No.5/6, and 903 was observed in the basal cell layer, the spinous cell layer and the keratinized layer, while CK 1 stained the basal cell layer and the spinous cell layer. Positive reaction with No.4 and No.13 was observed in the spinous cell layer of the interpapillal region, but no reaction was seen in the papillal region. The expression of integrin a2 was observed at the cell membrane of the basal cell layer and the spinous cell layer, and those of as and as were observed at the cell membrane of the basal cell layer in the interpapillal region. However, positive reaction with anti-a5 antibody was also seen in the spinous cell layer as well as basal cell layer in the interpapillal region. The localizations of as and 484 were demonstrated at the basal cell surface of the basal cell layer. The expressions of E-cadherin and desmoglein were observed at the cell membrane of the basal cell layer and the spinous cell layer, while that of P-cadherin in the basal cell layer only. Our results clearly demonstrated that there are significant differences in the expression patterns of cytokeratins and adhesion molecules between the region of papillae and interpapillal epithelia.

A case of verrucous carcinoma of the oral floor which had an excellent response to tegafur alone is reported.<BR>A 76-year-old woman complained of a swelling in the oral floor of 8 months' duration. Oral examination revealed an approximately elliptical tumor that measured 45×20×15mm and extended bilaterally from the oral floor to the alveolar mucosa. Regional lymph nodes were not clinically involved, and no distant metastasis was evident. She was orally administered 600mg per day of tegafur before operation. The tumor was reduced to about half of its primary size 10 days after the start of tegafur treatment. Two months later, no remaining verrucous carcinoma was observed on histologic examination.<BR>There were no noteworthy side effects. There is no evidence of recurrence or metastatic disease as of 28 months after treatment.

W e experienced a case of secondary syphilis in a 31-year-old male with eruption of the oral mucosa. Defined grayish white surfaced erosion with raised margin was observed on the lower lip. Slightly raised grayish white lesion was observed on the apex and bilateral edges of tongue, and a well-defined grayish white lesion with redness on the palate was also observed. The serological tests for syphilis were positive, and Treponema pallidum could be stained by Warthin-Starry method and immunofluorescene technique in the biopsy specimen taken from the lower lip and tongue. After the treatment with AMPC 1.5g/day for 8 weeks, and PCV 1.2 million unit/day for 4 weeks, the oral lesion disappeared in 3 weeks.

Pemphigus vulgaris is accompanied by oral erosions in the overwhelming majority of cases. The authors studied oral findings at the first visit of 12 patients with pemphigus vulgaris.<BR>1. In 9 cases, the chief complaint was pain of the gingiva and/or oral mucosa. In 2 cases, it was erosion of the oral mucosa, and in 1 case it was oral bleeding.<BR>2. In 11 cases, erosion was observed in several regions of the oral cavity.<BR>3. Erosion was frequently observed on the buccal mucosa, gingiva and hard palate. However, erosion of the alveolar mucosa and tongue was rare.<BR>These results suggest that the characteristics of erosion differ depending on the region of the oral cavity which is affected.

Pemphigus vulgaris is accompanied by oral erosions in the overwhelming majority of cases. The authors studied oral findings at the first visit of 12 patients with pemphigus vulgaris.<BR>1. In 9 cases, the chief complaint was pain of the gingiva and/or oral mucosa. In 2 cases, it was erosion of the oral mucosa, and in 1 case it was oral bleeding.<BR>2. In 11 cases, erosion was observed in several regions of the oral cavity.<BR>3. Erosion was frequently observed on the buccal mucosa, gingiva and hard palate. However, erosion of the alveolar mucosa and tongue was rare.<BR>These results suggest that the characteristics of erosion differ depending on the region of the oral cavity which is affected.