Immunohistochemical analysis of nerve growth factor receptor expression in normal and malignant human tissues.
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a polypeptide important for normal development of the nervous system and promotion of survival and differentiation of sensory and sympathetic neurons in culture. The cellular effects of NGF are mediated by a specific cell surface molecule, nerve growth factor receptor (NGF-R). In the present study we have used a monoclonal antibody against human NGF-R to examine, by the avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase method, the receptor distribution in a wide range of normal tissues and in more than 200 malignant tumors. Our results show that (a) human NGF-R is expressed in the peripheral nervous system but not in any of the central nervous system areas tested; (b) NGF-R expression is not restricted to neural tissues but is also found in a number of normal epithelial, mesenchymal, and lymphoid tissues; (c) NGF-R expression changes during normal development; and (d) NGF-R expression in malignant tumors generally parallels its normal tissue distribution. Thus, NGF-R is detected in a proportion of neuroectoderm-derived tumors, carcinomas, and lymphomas, and also in a characteristic group of small round-cell tumors (Ewing's sarcomas and embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas). These findings suggest a normal regulatory role for NGF in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells and identify a range of human tumors in which the NGF/NGF-R system may contribute to the malignant phenotype.
Chesa
P G
PG
Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021.
Rettig
W J
WJ
Thomson
T M
TM
Old
L J
LJ
Melamed
M R
MR
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001360:Avidin; D001710:Biotin; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004848:Epithelium / Q000032:analysis; D005333:Fetus / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000032:analysis; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000032:analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000032:analysis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000032:analysis; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D001360:Avidin; D001710:Biotin