title: Coexpression of transforming growth factor-alpha and épidermal growth factor receptor in capillary hemangioblastomas of the central nervous system.
abstract: The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the pre-pro form of one of its ligands, transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), was studied by Northern blotting in a series of 14 capillary hemangioblastomas of the central nervous system. A constant coexpression of EGFR and pre-pro-TGF-alpha mRNAs was found. Immunocytochemical investigation of an extended series of 51 capillary hemangioblastomas revealed that the stromal cells in these tumors showed immunoreactivity with monoclonal antibodies to EGFR and TGF-alpha. Analysis of gene dosage by Southern blotting in 20 tumors indicated a normal gene copy number of EGFR and TGF alpha in all cases. Our findings suggest that autocrine and/or juxtacrine growth stimulation via the EGFR may contribute to tumor growth in capillary hemangioblastomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reifenberger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reifenberger
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bilzer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wechsler
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002196:Capillaries; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018325:Hemangioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D066246:ErbB Receptors