Tissue factor expression and angiogenesis in human glioma.
BACKGROUND
Tissue factor (TF), a cell surface receptor of factor VII/VIIa, was initially recognized as an initiator of the extrinsic coagulation pathway. TF has recently been found to be expressed highly in certain types of malignant tumors. In addition, TF expression appears to be a marker for malignant angiogenesis in human solid tumors. However TF expression and its relationship to angiogenesis and tumor progression in human glioma are still unclear.


METHODS
Quantitative reverse transcription PCR and immunofluorescence were performed on the U251 glioma cell line, 5 normal brain specimens, and 34 glioma surgical specimens. Of the gliomas, 10 were grade IV, 12 grade III, 7 grade II, and 5 grade I. Microvessels were highlighted using a monoclonal antibody specific to human von Willebrand factor.


RESULTS
TF was strongly positive in 90% of the grade IV cases, 58% of grade III, 43% of grade II, and 20% of grade I. TF staining was not present in any normal brain specimens. The mean level of TF mRNA in normal brain tissue was 5.0 x 10(3) copies/microg RNA. Among the gliomas, TF mRNA ranged from 1.7 x 10(5) to 6.8 x 10(7) copies/microg, with a mean of 4.6 x 10(6). TF expression was highest in glioblastomas that showed greatest vascularity.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support a role for TF in angiogenesis in glioma. TF is expressed in glioma and the level of expression correlates with the histologic grade of malignancy and vascularity.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hua Shan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
Ming
M
Guan
Ji
J
Jin
Bing
B
Su
Wei Wei
WW
Liu
Yuan
Y
Lu
D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005910:Glioma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000941:Antigens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013925:Thromboplastin