An intron 9 containing splice variant of PAX2.
BACKGROUND
PAX2 is a transcription factor with an important role in embryogenic development. However, PAX2 expression was frequently identified in neoplasia responsible for the growth and survival of cancer cells. Due to alternative splicing of exon 6, exon 10 and exon 12 four isoforms of PAX2 are described so far.


METHODS
The expression of an intron 9 containing PAX2 splice variant was analyzed in neoplastic B cell and solid tumor cell lines as well as in primary tumor samples by quantitative RT-PCR. PAX2 proteins were detected by Western Blot in a subset of cell lines.


RESULTS
All 14 lymphoma cell lines expressed an undescribed PAX2 splice variant containing the entire intron 9 sequence and the exon 10 sequence. This splice variant could also be detected in 35 solid tumor cell lines, in leukemia and lymphoma as well as in colon carcinoma and melanoma patient samples and in blood samples of healthy donors. Expression of this new splice variant on protein level was verified by Western Blot analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
We discovered a previously undescribed intron 9 and exon 10 containing splice variant of PAX2 in B-cell neoplasia and in solid tumors on mRNA and protein level.
Busse
Antonia
A
Department of Medicine III, Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany. antonia.busse@charite.de
Rietz
Anika
A
Schwartz
Stefan
S
Thiel
Eckhard
E
Keilholz
Ulrich
U
D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics*; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor; C497318:PAX2 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger