title: RT-PCR detection of fibronectin EDA+ and EDB+ mRNA isoforms: molecular markers for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Alternative splicing of fibronectin pre-mRNA has been shown to be independently regulated at the EDA and EDB regions in a tissue and developmental stage-specific manner. In this study, RT-PCR approaches were developed for the detection of EDA and EDB FN mRNA isoforms in hepatocarcinoma cells (SK-Hep-I) grown in vitro and in human liver biopsies. While EDA+ and EDB+ isoforms were not present in control adult liver, they were detectable in the hepatocarcinoma cells and in fetal liver. The RT-PCR analysis, extended to biopsies of malignant and non-malignant hepatic tissues, showed that FN mRNAs containing the EDA and EDB sequences were present in the 14 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) tested but absent in the non-tumorous liver tissues (i.e., normal parenchyma, non-specific reactive and chronic hepatitis, steatosis). The EDB+ FN mRNA isoforms were also detected in 3 cases of benign neoplasm (hepatocellular adenoma, HCA, I; nodular focal hyperplasia, NFH, 2), while the EDA+ was only detectable in I of the 2 cases of NFH. In addition, both EDA+ and EDB+ isoforms were expressed in 5 out of 9 cirrhotic livers surrounding the tumors. This molecular analysis, which can also be performed on small liver biopsies (2 mg), may therefore be a useful additional tool in the diagnosis of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tavian
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Petro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Portolani
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Giulini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gardella
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barlati
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D001483:Base Sequence; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005353:Fibronectins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase