Ets-1 is up-regulated together with its target gene products matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in atypical and anaplastic meningiomas.
OBJECTIVE
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a pivotal enzyme system involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and are considered to be important in the development and invasion of human tumours. Little is known about the regulation of MMPs in meningioma development and prognosis. The transcription factor Ets-1 is the main regulator of several MMPs, including MMP-2 and -9. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the expression of Ets-1, MMP-2 and -9 and the malignant potential of meningiomas.


RESULTS
Seventy-four meningiomas of different histological grades were investigated immunohistochemically. Up-regulation of Ets-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression was observed in atypical and anaplastic meningiomas. Invasive meningiomas showed increased immunohistochemical expression of these proteins compared with non-invasive meningiomas. We also observed a correlation between the expression of Ets-1 and of its target genes MMP-2 and MMP-9.


CONCLUSIONS
Ets-1 may be involved in the transcriptional regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 as well as in the invasive process in meningiomas. Evaluation of these expressions might be of prognostic value for meningiomas.
Okuducu
A F
AF
Institute of Neuropathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany. a-f.okuducu@charite.de
Zils
U
U
Michaelis
S A M
SA
Michaelides
S
S
von Deimling
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9