Expression of the jun family of genes in human ovarian cancer and normal ovarian surface epithelium.
The jun genes (c-jun, jun-B and jun-D) play a role in critical cell functions such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. We documented jun expression at the mRNA and protein level in human ovarian cancer tissues (n=28), surface epithelial cells of normal ovaries (n=14) and ovarian cancer cell lines (n=6). Almost all of ovarian tumors as well as normal ovaries concomitantly express c-jun, jun-B, and jun-D mRNA. Immunohistochemistry was less sensitive and revealed nuclear c-Jun and Jun-B proteins in the malignant epithelial cells of respectively 38% and 11% of ovarian tumors and in the surface epithelium of a normal premenopausal ovary. In cultured ovarian cancer cells, c-jun and jun-B expression is inducible by serum and TPA and is therefore not constitutive. The c-jun and jun-B proteins therefore play a role both in differentiation of the normal ovarian surface epithelium, as well as in the proliferation of epithelial ovarian cancer cells. High jun-B expression relates to a more malignant phenotype both in vitro and in vivo. The jun-D gene is suppressed in ovarian cancer cells as compared to normal ovarian surface epithelial cells in situ and in vitro. Downregulation of jun-D might therefore be part of the malignant ovarian epithelial cell phenotype.
Neyns
B
B
Department of Medical Onocolgy and Haematology, Vrije Universiteit, Brussel, Belgium.
Katesuwanasing
Vermeij
J
J
Bourgain
C
C
Vandamme
B
B
Amfo
K
K
Lissens
W
W
DeSutter
P
P
Hooghe-Peters
E
E
DeGrève
J
J
D016475:3T3 Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D016758:Genes, jun; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate