title: Expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) in a mouse model of rhabdomyosarcomagenesis.
abstract: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) is a cysteine-rich matricellular protein that belongs to the CCN (CYR61, CTGF, NOV) protein family. It is highly expressed by human rhabdomyosarcoma cells and sustains their survival. In this study we investigated CCN2 expression in a mouse model of spontaneous rhabdomyosarcomagenesis that combines HER-2/neu oncogene activation and p53 oncosuppressor gene inactivation (BALB-p53neu mice). Murine rhabdomyosarcoma cells showed a 4-26 fold increase in CCN2 mRNA expression regarding to normal thigh muscle. Moreover, they expressed CCN2 protein at levels comparable to human rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Therefore BALBp53neu mice might be useful for the evaluation of the role played by CCN2 in rhabdomyosarcoma in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Croci
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Landuzzi
authors.forename: Giordano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palladini
authors.forename: Agnese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antognoli
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Giovanni
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nanni
authors.forename: Pier-Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lollini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D055514:Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Protein; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C526317:CCN2 protein, human; C526318:CCN2 protein, mouse; C526319:CCN3 protein, human; C526320:Ccn3 protein, mouse; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D055514:Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Protein; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor