Interleukin (IL)-22 is a member of the IL-10 family. Its main targets are epithelial cells, not immune cells. We examined IL-22 signal transduction in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that IL-22R was expressed more highly in OSCC compared to normal regions. An IL-22R signal was also observed in metastatic OSCC cells in the lymph node. RT-PCR showed that the human OSCC cell lines MISK81-5, HSC-3, HSC-4, SAS and SQUU-B expressed IL-22 receptor chains. Immunoblotting showed that IL-22 induced a transient tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 (pY705-STAT3) in MISK81-5 cells. The change in the serine phosphorylation of STAT3 was subtle during the examination periods. Simultaneously, pY705-STAT3 activation in HSC-3 cells was undetectable after IL-22 stimulation. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that IL-22 induced the translocation of phosphorylated STAT3 into the nucleus of MISK81-5 cells. IL-22 temporarily upregulated the expression of anti-apoptotic and mitogenic genes such as Bcl-x, survivin and c-Myc, as well as SOCS3. IL-22 transiently activated ERK1/2 and induced a delayed phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase, but negligibly involved the activation of NF-κB in MISK81-5 cells. MISK81-5 and SQUU-B cells treated with IL-22 showed mild cellular proliferation. MISK81-5, HSC-4 and SAS cells treated with IL-22 downregulated the keratinocyte differentiation-related genes compared with unstimulated cells. Conversely, STAT3 suppression by STAT3 siRNA strongly disrupted the down-regulation of these genes by IL-22, but it did not significantly affect the activation of ERK1/2 by IL-22. The OSCC cells used in this study upregulated the expression of SERPINB3/4 (SCCA1/2), well-known SCC markers, following treatment with IL-22. These results indicate that IL-22 differentially activates the STAT3 signaling system depending on the type of OSCC. IL-22 may therefore play a role in tumor growth, cell differentiation and progression through STAT3-dependent and -independent pathways.

Objective: To evaluate the morphological changes in the lips and to determine the degree of improvement in the smile after orthodontic treatment for Class II division 1 malocclusion. Materials and Methods: The sample subjects were divided into two groups: a group that consisted of 20 adult female patients with Angle Class II division 1 malocclusion and a control group that consisted of 28 adult female volunteers with normal occlusion. Frontal photographs were taken before and after orthodontic treatment, and 35 landmarks were placed on each tracing made from the photograph. Thereafter, landmarks were digitized into an x-and y-coordinate system with the subnasal point as the origin. The comparisons between pretreatment and posttreatment at rest and on smiling, and the comparisons between Class II division 1 and control group were made using Student's t-test. Results: Both the upper and lower lips in the smile of patients in the Class II division 1 pretreatment group were positioned downward, and the upward movement of the upper lip and mouth corners was smaller in comparison with the control group. These characteristics of the Class II smile improved after orthodontic treatment, but the differences with the control group remained unchanged immediately after treatment. Conclusion:The soft tissue morphology shows a relative improvement after orthodontic treatment.

The hypothesis is rejected. The soft tissue morphology of patients with dento-skeletal Class III malocclusion shows a significant improvement after orthognathic surgery.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that there is a difference in the morphology of the lips of Class II div 1 and Class III malocclusion, before and after orthodontic treatment. Methods:The sample subjects included 20 adult female patients with Angle Class II div 1 malocclusion and 30 adult female patients with dento-skeletal Class III malocclusion. Frontal photographs were taken both before and after orthodontic and/or orthognathic treatment. Thirty-five landmarks were placed on each tracing made from the photograph. Thereafter, landmarks were digitized into an x and y coordinates system with the subnasal point as the origin. The Class II pretreatment and posttreatment groups of rest and smile conditions were compared with the Class III group respectively, using t-tests. Results:In the Class II pretreatment group, upper and lower lips positioned downward than that in the Class III group. When smiling, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups before treatment, whereas after orthodontic treatment both Class II and Class III groups showed the significant difference at rest and on smiling conditions. On smiling condition Class III group showed more upwards and lateral movement of the mouth corners than Class II group. Conclusion:Orthodontic treatment induced larger amount in movement of lips at smiling in both Class II and III patients, which may reflect the emotional changes in the patients after treatment.