title: Melanoma-associated adhesion molecule MUC18/MCAM (CD146) and transcriptional regulator mader in normal human CNS.
abstract: The proteins MUC18 and Mader have been identified as markers of tumor progression in melanoma cells. MUC18, also known as MCAM (melanoma cell adhesion molecule) and as CD146 (endothelial antigen), is a cell adhesion molecule belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Mader is a transcriptional regulator shown to negatively regulate EGR-1. As it is known that neoplastic cells of neuroectodermal origin frequently express neuron-specific molecules, we studied whether these melanoma-associated antigens are found in normal CNS tissue. We investigated the expression of MUC18/MCAM and Mader in adult human post mortem CNS tissue by immunohistochemistry, immunoblot and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Our results show that Mader is preferentially expressed on neurons and glial cells and that the adhesion protein MUC18/MCAM is mainly expressed on vasculature within the CNS. These observations may have important implications for further studies investigating their possible roles in cell adhesion and proliferation control within the CNS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, Germany mschwarz@psy.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Körschenhausen
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Penning
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ackenheil
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hampel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D051929:CD146 Antigen; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D012097:Repressor Proteins
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D051929:CD146 Antigen; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497902:MCAM protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C491000:NAB2 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase