Effect of the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 2 in primary human glioblastomas on immunosuppression and loss of immune surveillance.
Glioblastomas are malignant brain tumors that are attended by an immunosuppressed state. The authors have studied the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 2, which is known to have potent immunosuppressive and angiogenic properties. Transforming growth factor-beta 2 messenger ribonucleic acid and its protein product are both found to be greatly overexpressed in these tumors and are absent from normal brain tissue. The overexpression of this growth factor may contribute to the escape of neoplastic astrocytes from immune surveillance and, furthermore, to the immunosuppressed state that is characteristic of many of these patients.
Center for Blood Research and Neurosurgical Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
M
M
Maxwell
T
T
Galanopoulos
J
J
Neville-Golden
H N
HN
Antoniades
D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000276:immunology; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance / Q000235:genetics; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta