Purpose: The aim of the present study was to examine whether Jab1 expression is correlated with p27 protein and its phosphorylation status as well as how it might be clinically relevant in epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Using ovarian carcinoma cell line HO-8910 to confirm and extend the findings.
Methods: Immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis were done in 70 cases of epithelial ovarian cacinoma and HO-8910 cells.
Results: Jab1 overexpression was detected in 84.3% (59 of 70) of malignant tumors and 31.6% (6 of 19) of benign tumors. A positive correlation between Jab1 and cytoplasmic p27 as well as Ser10 phosphorylated p27 was found in malignant ovarian tumors. In addition, patients displaying overexpression of Jab1, cytoplasmic p27 and Ser10 phosphorylated p27 were significantly associated with unfavorable clinicopathologic variables. Transfection with Jab1 in HO-8910 cells resulted in decreased p27 expression and this reduction was sensitive to 26S proteasome inhibitors. Overexpression of Jab1 caused p27 nuclear export and dissociate from Cdk2/Cyclin complex. What is more, increased expression of a phosphorylated histone H1 in the immune-complex obtained from Jab1 transfected HO-8910 cells was also observed.
Conclusions: Jab1, as a negative regulator of p27, may be associated with the progression and prognosis of epithelial ovarian tumors.