HERG potassium channels are more frequently expressed in human endometrial cancer as compared to non-cancerous endometrium.
HERG K(+)channels, besides contributing to regulate cardiac and neuronal excitability, are preferentially expressed in tumour cell lines of different histogenesis, where their role in the development and maintenance of the neoplastic phenotype is under study. We show here that both herg gene and HERG protein are expressed with high frequency in primary human endometrial cancers, as compared to normal and hyperplastic endometrium. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, using specific anti-HERG antibodies developed in our laboratory, were applied to tissue specimens obtained from 18 endometrial cancers and 11 non-cancerous endometrial tissues. herg RNA and HERG protein are expressed in 67% and 82%, respectively, of cancerous, while in only 18% of non-cancerous tissues. In particular, no expression was found in endometrial hyperplasia. Moreover, electrophysiological experiments confirmed the presence of functioning HERG channels on the plasma membrane of tumour cells. On the whole, these data are the first demonstration of the presence of HERG channels in primary human neoplasias, and could candidate HERG as a potential tool capable of marking cancerous versus hyperplastic endometrial growth.
Cherubini
A
A
Department of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, University of Firenze, Viale G.B. Morgagni 50, Firenze, 50134, Italy.
Taddei
G L
GL
Crociani
O
O
Paglierani
M
M
Buccoliero
A M
AM
Fontana
L
L
Noci
I
I
Borri
P
P
Borrani
E
E
Giachi
M
M
Becchetti
A
A
Rosati
B
B
Wanke
E
E
Olivotto
M
M
Arcangeli
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D004594:Electrophysiology; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013424:Sulfanilamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
D001562:Benzimidazoles; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D012313:RNA; D013424:Sulfanilamides; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG; C072312:ERG protein, human; C000606913:KCNH2 protein, human; C092509:KCNH6 protein, human; C073190:WAY 123398; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides