Pin1 is overexpressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its levels correlate with cyclin D1 overexpression.

Phosphorylation of serine or threonine residue preceding proline (Ser/Thr-Pro) is a key regulatory mechanism. The conformation of certain phosphorylated Ser/Thr-Pro bonds is regulated specifically by the prolyl isomerase Pin1. Inhibition of Pin1 induces apoptosis and may contribute to neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease. It has been reported that Pin1 is strikingly overexpressed in a subset of human tumors. The differential display screen revealed that Pin1 increases the transcription of several target genes, including cyclin D1 and c-myc genes. Pin1 cooperates with Ras signaling in increasing the transcriptional activity of c-Jun towards cyclin D1. Pin1 also regulates turnover and subcellular localization of beta-catenin by inhibiting its interaction with adenomatous polyposis coli protein (APC). However, the analysis of Pin1 expression has not been demonstrated in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We examined the expression of Pin1 mRNA and protein in OSCC cell lines, and analyzed Pin1/cyclin D1/beta-catenin expression in OSCC clinical samples by immunohistochemical staining. We report that Pin1 is overexpressed in OSCC and its level correlates with cyclin D1 level. These results indicate that Pin1 is related to oncogenesis of OSCC.