title: Proteomic studies on low- and high-grade human brain astrocytomas.
abstract: Human brain astrocytomas range from the indolent low-grade to the highly infiltrating and aggressive high-grade form, also known as glioblastoma multiforme. The extensive heterogeneity of astrocytic tumors complicates their pathological classification. In this study, we compared the protein pattern of low-grade fibrillary astrocytomas to that of glioblastoma multiforme by 2D electrophoresis. The level of most proteins remains unchanged between the different grade tumors and only few differences are reproducibly observable. Fifteen differentially expressed proteins, as well as seventy conserved spots, were identified by mass spectrometry. Western and immnunohistochemical analysis confirmed the differential expression of the identified proteins. These data provide an initial reference map for brain gliomas. Among the proteins more highly expressed in glioblastoma multiforme, we found peroxiredoxin 1 and 6, the transcription factor BTF3, and alpha-B-crystallin, whereas protein disulfide isomerase A3, the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and the glial fibrillary acidic protein are increased in low-grade astrocytomas. Our findings contribute to deepening our knowledge of the factors that characterize this class of tumors and, at the same time, can be applied toward the development of novel molecular biomakers potentially useful for an accurate classification of the grade of astrocytomas.
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Padriciano 99, I-34012 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Odreman
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vindigni
authors.forename: Marlen Lujardo
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Niccolini
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Candiano
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zanotti
authors.forename: Miran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skrap
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pizzolitto
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stanta
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vindigni
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D040901:Proteomics
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins