title: Heterogeneity of apoptotic pathways and c.Jun/JNK expression in malignant gliomas.
abstract: In brain tumors, the prognostic value of apoptosis is still debated, even though recent observations are rather negative. In 50 astrocytic gliomas, apoptotic nuclei were recognized by TUNEL technique and morphology and apoptotic index (AI), mitotic index (MI) and the MI/AI ratio were calculated in proliferative areas and in areas containing perinecrotic palisadings and hypercellular centres. In proliferative areas, a positive linear correlation between MI and AI and a MI/AI ratio > I were found. The latter was < I in perinecrotic palisadings and hypercellular centres. This suggests the possibility that apoptosis is triggered respectively by cell proliferation and hypoxia. A small number of apoptotic nuclei was positive for c-Jun and JNKI, suggesting the involvement of this pathway in apoptosis as well as that of sphingomyelinase/ceramide. No relationship was found between AI and labeling indices of Bcl-2, Bcl-x, Bax, p53, APO.I/Fas. The rationale for a prognostic value of apoptosis in gliomas is thus poor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schiffer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferracini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cavalla
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008940:Mitotic Index; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases