title: mRNA expression of bone morphogenetic proteins and their receptors in human renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been studied in several cancers, but only limited information is available about renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). We determined the expression of mRNA of several BMP ligands and BMP receptors (BMPRs) in healthy kidney tissue and RCCs, and data were compared to clinicopathological parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four samples of RCCs and healthy renal tissues were prospectively examined. The expression of BMP2, BMP4, BMP6, BMP7, BMPRIA, BMPRIB and BMPRII mRNA was determined using semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of different BMP ligands and BMPRs were considerably higher in RCCs than in normal kidney tissue. BMP ligands showed elevated expression in clear-cell RCCs, whereas all three BMPRs showed higher expression levels in non-clear-cell RCCs. In clear-cell RCCs, the expression levels of BMP2 progressively increased and expression levels of BMP6, BMP7 and BMPRIB were lost with higher tumor stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All BMPs and their receptors have stronger expression levels in RCC. The expression level of BMP2 is strongly elevated in kidney cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia. dean.markic @ ri.htnet.hr
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Markić
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ćelić
authors.forename: Antun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gršković
authors.forename: Josip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Španjol
authors.forename: Željko
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Fučkar
authors.forename: Blaženka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grahovac
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dorđević
authors.forename: Dragica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bobinac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: C525718:BMP2 protein, human; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D012333:RNA, Messenger