Differential gene expression of Eph receptors and ephrins in benign human tissues and cancers.
BACKGROUND
Eph receptors and their ligands, the ephrins, represent a large class of cell-cell communication molecules with well-defined developmental functions. Their role in healthy adult tissues and in human disease is still largely unknown, although diverse roles in carcinogenesis have been postulated.


METHODS
We established a set of fluorescent PCR probes and primers for the definition of individual gene expression profiles of 12 different Eph receptors and 8 ephrins in 13 different healthy tissues. The mRNA expression profiles were studied in human lung, colorectal, kidney, liver, and brain cancers.


RESULTS
The family of Eph receptors/ephrins was widely expressed in adult tissues with organ-site-specific patterns: EphB6 was highest in the thymus, compatible with an involvement in T-cell maturation. Brain and testis shared a unique pattern with EphA6, EphA8, and EphB1 being the most prominent. EphA7 had a high abundance in the kidney vasculature. Ephrin-A3 was up-regulated 26-fold in lung cancer, and EphB2 was up-regulated 9-fold in hepatocellular carcinoma. EphA8 was down-regulated in colon cancer, and EphA1/EphA8 was down-regulated in glioblastomas.


CONCLUSIONS
Eph/Ephrin genes are widely expressed in all adult organs with certain organ-site-specific patterns. Because their function in adult tissues remains unknown, further analysis of their role in disease may disclose new insights beyond their well-defined meaning in development.
Hafner
Christian
C
Department of Dermatology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Schmitz
Gerd
G
Meyer
Stefanie
S
Bataille
Frauke
F
Hau
Peter
P
Langmann
Thomas
T
Dietmaier
Wolfgang
W
Landthaler
Michael
M
Vogt
Thomas
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D036342:Ephrins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D036081:Receptors, Eph Family / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D036342:Ephrins; D036081:Receptors, Eph Family