Decreased wild-type full-length Et-A and -B receptors in neuroblastoma and Ewing sarcoma cells.
BACKGROUND
Endothelins and their receptors, Et-A and Et-B, play an essential role in differentiation and migration of neural crest cells. Expression of endothelin receptors has been examined in neuroblastoma and Ewing sarcoma cell lines.


METHODS
RNA was amplified for Et-A and Et-B by RT-PCR. Amplified products were cloned into the expression vector pLNCX, which was used to transfect CHO cells. Binding characteristics of transfected CHO cells were examined.


RESULTS
Full-length Et-A mRNA was identified in all cell lines, in addition to a truncated Et-A product. CHO cells expressing full-length Et-A bound to endothelin, but cells expressing truncated Et-A did not. Full length Et-B mRNA was not detected, but two smaller molecular weight products were amplified. These are as yet uncharacterised.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that endothelins and their receptors may be important in the development and biology of neuroblastoma and Ewing sarcoma.
Berry
P A
PA
ICRF Cancer Medicine Research Unit, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Zhang
Y F
YF
Carter
N D
ND
Jeffery
S
S
Burchill
S A
SA
D000818:Animals; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D016232:Endothelins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012512:Sarcoma, Ewing / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism
D016232:Endothelins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins