Expression of the GLI2 oncogene and its isoforms in human basal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Mutations of the patched (Ptc) gene, a developmental regulator implicated in the signalling pathway via sonic hedgehog (Shh) and smoothened (Smo), play an essential pathogenic role in the development of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). We previously reported the upregulation of Shh signal transducers, including Ptc, Smo and hedgehog-interacting protein, in BCCs. In vertebrates, specific downstream effectors in the Shh signalling pathway include three zinc-finger transcription factors, Gli1, Gli2 and Gli3. Gli1 possesses only an activation domain, while Gli2 and Gli3 contain both activation and repression domains. It remains unclear which of these transcription factors are responsible for the development of BCCs.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the expression pattern of Gli2 mRNA by human BCCs in comparison with those by normal human skin and various skin tumours.


METHODS
We performed quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses with a series of samples from BCCs, other skin tumours and normal skin.


RESULTS
We found that Gli2 mRNA expression was enhanced in the BCCs we examined, whereas there was no significant increase in other skin tumours or normal skin. Of four spliced Gli2 isoforms designated Gli2alpha, beta, gamma and delta, the expression of Gli2beta mRNA was increased the most in BCCs.


CONCLUSIONS
As Gli2beta is an isoform spliced at the first splicing site containing a repression domain and consists of an intact activation domain, its overexpression may lead to the upregulation of the Shh signalling pathway, thereby inducing BCCs.
Tojo
M
M
Department of Dermatology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan.
Kiyosawa
H
H
Iwatsuki
K
K
Nakamura
K
K
Kaneko
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015139:Blotting, Southern / Q000379:methods; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D000075746:Zinc Finger Protein Gli2
C082593:GLI2 protein, human; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000075746:Zinc Finger Protein Gli2