Reduced transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor (TGF-beta RII) expression in adenocarcinoma of the lung.
BACKGROUND
TGF-beta type II receptor is considered as one of the tumor suppressor genes, and altered expression of TGF-beta RII has been found in many kinds of cancers.


METHODS
Seven NSCLC cell lines and 21 surgically resected NSCLC tissues were obtained. The growth inhibition by TGF-beta 1 was examined by MTT assay. Northern blot and Southern blot analysis were performed for TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta RII in NSCLC cell lines. TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta RII expression were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 21 surgically resected NSCLC tissues.


RESULTS
Six of 7 NSCLC cell lines were resistant to TGF-beta 1. Southern blot analysis for TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta RII showed no genetic changes. However, mRNAs of TGF-beta RII were barely detectable in 3 of 7 cell lines, and mRNAs of TGF-beta 1 were almost undetectable in 2 of 7. IHC revealed decreased TGF-beta RII expression in 6 of 21 surgically resected NSCLC tissues (5 adenocarcinomas, 1 sarcomatoid carcinoma). Being analyzed by the histologic subtypes, TGF-beta RII decreased in 5 of 8 adenocarcinomas but in only 1 of 13 non-adenocarcinomas (p = 0.0139). On the other hand, TGF-beta 1 was expressed at a higher level in 20 of 21 tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that decreased TGF-beta RII expression may play a role in human lung carcinogenesis, especially in adenocarcinoma.
Kim
W S
WS
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Sungkyunkwan University, College of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Park
C
C
Jung
Y S
YS
Kim
H S
HS
Han
J
J
Park
C H
CH
Kim
K
K
Kim
J
J
Shim
Y M
YM
Park
K
K
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II