title: Expression of β-adrenergic receptors in pediatric malignant brain tumors.
abstract: β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) are G protein-coupled receptors that activate signal transduction pathways involved in angiogenesis, resulting in enhanced tumor vascularization and more aggressive growth. In this study, we evaluated the expression of β-ARs in a population of 12 children affected by malignant primary brain tumors. We found a significant expression of β1- and β2-ARs in all 12 samples as well as the 3 cell lines tested (U87MG, T98G and DAOY). The mean absolute β1-AR mRNA level standardized to GAPDH was 5.81 (range, -7.91 to 11.29) for brain tumors and 8.59 (range, 6.046 to 12.59) for cell lines (U87MG, DAOY and T98G), respectively. The mean absolute β2-AR mRNA level was 4.74 (range, -9.30 to 8.45) for tumor specimens and 7.64 (range, 5.85 to 8.88) for cell lines. These real-time quantitative (qRT)-PCR expression data were confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis. Our study evaluated the presence of β1- and β2-ARs in malignant pediatric brain tumors and brain tumor cell lines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology;
authors.forename: Iacopo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sardi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giunti
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bresci
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Buccoliero
authors.forename: Duccio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Degl'innocenti
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cardellicchio
authors.forename: Gianna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baroni
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castiglione
authors.forename: Martina DA
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fiorini
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giglio
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Genitori
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aricò
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Filippi