A receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP zeta is expressed in human cutaneous melanomas.
We describe the expression of a receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP zeta (or RPTP beta) in human cutaneous melanomas as detected by means of immunohistochemistry. The expression of PTP zeta has been described to be restricted to the central nervous system. In developing mice brain high levels of PTP zeta have been detected indicating its developmental importance; PTP zeta is also expressed in glioblastoma and neuroblastoma. By the use of immunohistochemistry we detected PTP zeta in human primary and metastatic melanomas. The melanocytes of healthy skin remained negative. Due to the developmental origin of the melanocytes from neural crest, this represents a further example for transformed cells switching back to express molecules related to their ontogenetic history. These promising initial results have to be verified in larger scaled studies; the inclusion of nevi will be necessary to further elucidate the role of PTP zeta in melanocyte transformation and melanoma development.
Goldmann
T
T
Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Research Center Borstel, Germany.
Otto
F
F
Vollmer
E
E
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000032:analysis*; D054633:Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 5; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C516895:PTPRZ1 protein, human; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; D054633:Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 5