Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in human middle ear cholesteatoma: an analysis of protein production and gene expression.
Previous studies have shown an altered epithelial cell proliferation in middle ear cholesteatoma, reporting an aberrant expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) glycoprotein by immunohistochemistry. In this study, we quantified the presence of EGF-R using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) on tissue extracts, as well as the EGF-R gene expression by in situ hybridization on frozen sections. Human skin obtained from the external ear canal was used as control. The amounts of EGF-R glycoprotein in cholesteatoma were very similar to those in human skin. Human skin showed EGF-R messenger RNA (mRNA) only in the basal layer. A higher percentage of cells hybridized for the anti-sense probes EGF-R was found in cholesteatoma epithelium. Furthermore, we could find suprabasal cells with EGF-R mRNA. Our results confirm that the abnormal growth of cholesteatoma epithelium is reflected in an aberrant expression of EGF receptor.
Bujía
J
J
Department of Otolaryngology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany.
Kim
C
C
Holly
A
A
Sudhoff
H
H
Ostos
P
P
Kastenbauer
E
E
D001665:Binding Sites; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015342:DNA Probes; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha
D015342:DNA Probes; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006023:Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D066246:ErbB Receptors