title: Detection of anti-sense transcripts of the insulin-like growth factor-2 gene in Wilms' tumor.
abstract: The expression of the insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) gene was studied by means of both in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in eight cases of Wilms' tumor with different histological features. An anti-sense cRNA IGF-2 probe revealed the presence of abundant IGF-2 mRNAs in all eight tumors examined, localized in the most undifferentiated tumoral cells (blastemal cells); none of the tumors showed immunoreactivity for the anti-IGF-2 antibody. Using a sense cRNA IGF-2 probe, we also detected anti-sense transcripts of the IGF-2 gene in five of eight tumors. These transcripts were exclusively localized in the cells expressing the IGF-2 mRNAs. Although the function of these anti-sense transcripts is unknown, we think that their presence could explain the lack of IGF-2 peptides in Wilms' tumors despite increased expression of IGF-2 mRNAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baccarini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiorentino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Errico
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Grigioni
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004076:Digoxigenin; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D004076:Digoxigenin