Expression of iron-related genes in human brain and brain tumors.
BACKGROUND
Defective iron homeostasis may be involved in the development of some diseases within the central nervous system. Although the expression of genes involved in normal iron balance has been intensively studied in other tissues, little is known about their expression in the brain. We investigated the mRNA levels of hepcidin (HAMP), HFE, neogenin (NEO1), transferrin receptor 1 (TFRC), transferrin receptor 2 (TFR2), and hemojuvelin (HFE2) in normal human brain, brain tumors, and astrocytoma cell lines. The specimens included 5 normal brain tissue samples, 4 meningiomas, one medulloblastoma, 3 oligodendrocytic gliomas, 2 oligoastrocytic gliomas, 8 astrocytic gliomas, and 3 astrocytoma cell lines.


RESULTS
Except for hemojuvelin, all genes studied had detectable levels of mRNA. In most tumor types, the pattern of gene expression was diverse. Notable findings include high expression of transferrin receptor 1 in the hippocampus and medulla oblongata compared to other brain regions, low expression of HFE in normal brain with elevated HFE expression in meningiomas, and absence of hepcidin mRNA in astrocytoma cell lines despite expression in normal brain and tumor specimens.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that several iron-related genes are expressed in normal brain, and that their expression may be dysregulated in brain tumors.
Hänninen
Milla M
MM
Institute of Medical Technology and School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. milla.hanninen@uta.fi
Haapasalo
Joonas
J
Haapasalo
Hannu
H
Fleming
Robert E
RE
Britton
Robert S
RS
Bacon
Bruce R
BR
Parkkila
Seppo
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology*; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D064451:Hepcidins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009837:Oligodendroglioma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
D015703:Antigens, CD; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C068126:CD71 antigen; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C578702:HAMP protein, human; C103673:HFE protein, human; C481006:HJV protein, human; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D064451:Hepcidins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; C503640:TFR2 protein, human; C091279:neogenin