Immunohistochemical profile of neurotrophins in human cranial dura mater and meningiomas.
The immunohistochemical profile of neurotrophins and their receptors in the human cranial dura mater was studied by examining certain dural zones in specimens harvested from different regions (frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital). Dural specimens were obtained during neurosurgical operations performed in ten patients for surgical treatment of intracranial lesions (meningiomas, traumas, gliomas, vascular malformations). The dural fragments were taken from the area of the craniotomy at least 8 cm from the lesion as well as from the area in which the meningioma had its dural attachment. Immunohistochemical characterization and distribution of neurotrophins, with their receptors, were analyzed. The concrete role played by these neurotrophic factors in general regulation, vascular permeability, algic responsivity and release of locally active substances in the human dura mater is still controversial. Our study revealed a general structural alteration of dural tissue due to the invasivity of meningiomatous lesions, together with an improved expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in highly proliferating neoplastic cells and an evident production of nerve growth factor (NGF) in inflammatory cells, suggesting that BDNF has a role in supporting the proliferation rate of neoplastic cells, while NGF is involved in the activation of a chronic inflammatory response in neoplastic areas.
Department of Otorhinolaringology, Audiology and Phoniatry 'G. Ferreri', University of Rome 'La Sapienza', 00161 Rome, Italy. marco.artico@uniroma1.it
Marco
M
Artico
Elena
E
Bronzetti
Elena
E
Pompili
Brunella
B
Ionta
Valentina
V
Alicino
Anna
A
D'Ambrosio
Antonio
A
Santoro
Francesco S
FS
Pastore
Ilia
I
Elenkov
Lorenzo
L
Fumagalli
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000032:analysis; D003399:Craniotomy; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008579:Meningioma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor