Co-expression of neuregulins 1, 2, 3 and 4 in human breast cancer.
We have produced antibodies to the NRG2-alpha, NRG2-beta, NRG3 and NRG4 proteins and used these, and previously described antibodies to NRG1-alpha and NRG1-beta, to detect expression of each ligand by immunocytochemical staining in a series of 45 breast cancers. Each protein was expressed in a proportion of cases. Statistical analysis suggested that expression of one factor was associated with a high probability that other members of the family were co-expressed. NRG2-alpha expression was associated with node positivity (p-value = 0.005). The mRNAs for NRG1, 2, 3 and 4 were found in established breast cancer cell lines and NRG1, 2 and 3 mRNAs were detected in primary breast cancers. Expression of NRG4 mRNA was shown by in situ hybridization in sections from primary breast cancers. This data demonstrates that each member of the NRG family of ligands is expressed in breast cancer and suggests that they may be involved in regulating cell behaviour.
Dunn
Mariana
M
Cancer Biology Laboratory, Research School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
Sinha
Prakash
P
Campbell
Rebecca
R
Blackburn
Edith
E
Levinson
Neil
N
Rampaul
Raj
R
Bates
Tom
T
Humphreys
Stephen
S
Gullick
William J
WJ
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D020880:Neuregulins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C106766:NRG2 protein, human; C486357:NRG3 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020890:Neuregulin-1; D020880:Neuregulins; C491453:Nrg2 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C467747:neuregulin-4