Expression of mRNA for heregulin and its receptor, ErbB-3 and ErbB-4, in human upper gastrointestinal mucosa.
Expression of mRNA for heregulin (HRG), a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family and its receptors, ErbB-3 and ErbB-4, were evaluated in human upper gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa. Multi-target reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis using capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced fluorescence allowed us to quantify the minute amounts of mRNA from one biopsy specimen with high sensitivity. HRG, ErbB-3 and ErbB-4 mRNA were detected in esophagus, stomach and duodenum and the highest expression was found in duodenum. In gastric cancer, mRNA for ErbB-4 was significantly overexpressed. Immunoreactivity of ErbB-4 in carcinoma cell membrane was also confirmed. These findings suggest that HRG and its receptors, ErbB-3 and ErbB-4 may be physiologically significant in the human upper GI mucosa, especially in duodenum, and that ErbB-4 may contribute to the growth of gastric cancer.
First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya City University Medical School, Japan.
H
H
Kataoka
T
T
Joh
K
K
Kasugai
N
N
Okayama
A
A
Moriyama
K
K
Asai
T
T
Kato
D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D020880:Neuregulins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D006023:Glycoproteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020880:Neuregulins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C587689:ERBB4 protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4