title: Retinoblastoma: messenger RNA for interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein.
abstract: Surgically excised retinoblastomas from 14 patients (age range nine months to two years) were assessed by immunocytochemistry for the expression of photoreceptor-specific proteins and neuronal and glial cell markers. Adjacent tissues were examined for messenger RNA expression of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) using Northern blots. For immunocytochemical stains (ABC method), monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies included S-Ag, rhodopsin, neuron specific enolase (NSE), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), IRBP, neural adhesion molecule (N-CAM), and rod and cone specific transducin (TR alpha and TC alpha). Histopathology revealed mostly poorly differentiated tumors with necrosis and lack of Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes. Immunocytochemical staining showed focal IRBP expression in one of the tumors and S-antigen in two cases. Immunoreactivity with rhodopsin was negative. N-CAM, a neural adhesive protein which appears to be involved in the regulation of adhesive interaction during neuronal differentiation, was positive except in two cases. All tumors showed immunoreactivity with NSE, whereas GFAP staining was limited to the perivascular glial tissue confirming the essential neuronal nature of retinoblastoma cells. TC alpha was detected in all tumors and TR alpha in one case. Messenger RNA for IRBP was detected in tumors in which IRBP immunoreactivity could not be detected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21201.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajagopalan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Advani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Donoso
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Chader
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiggert
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000378:metabolism; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000099214:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Interstitial
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D000099214:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Interstitial