title: VEGFR-3, VEGF-C and VEGF-D mRNA quantification by RT-PCR in different human cell types.
abstract: The molecular events favoring lymphangiogenic pathways for tumor growth and dissemination are not perfectly understood, nor are the expression patterns of lymphangiogenic biomarkers such as the VEGFR-3 receptor and its ligands, VEGF-C and VEGF-D. In particular, VEGFR-3 expression is not restricted to the lymphatic endothelium, but is found on some cancer cells and other cell types. A quantitative RT-PCR method was set up to measure the mRNA levels of VEGFR-3, VEGF-C and VEGF-D. With this method, a very low detection threshold was obtained when tested on 17 different human cell types. It was found that, in contrast to VEGF-D mRNA, the VEGFR-3 and VEGF-C mRNAs were not expressed in all the cell types studied, and that blood cells expressed high VEGFR-3 mRNA levels compared to solid tumor cells. As a result, quantitative RT-PCR is considered to be a highly reliable and reproducible technique that could help elucidate lymphangiogenic marker patterns of expression and function in cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges, France.
authors.forename: Dany
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leclers
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cook-Moreau
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rabinovitch-Chable
authors.forename: Franck G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Sturtz
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rigaud
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3