Anne[a]
J Neurooncol. 2005 Nov 15;:1-7
Tenascin-C protein is induced by Transforming Growth Factor-ss1 but does not correlate with time to tumor progression in high-grade gliomas.
Hau P, Kunz-Schughart LA, Rummele P, Arslan F, Dorfelt A, Koch H, Lohmeier A, Hirschmann B, Muller A, Bogdahn U, Bosserhoff AK.
Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, Universitatsstrasse 84, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
BACKGROUND:
Tenascin-C is an extracellular matrix protein known to correlate with prognosis in patients with glioblastoma, probably by stimulation of invasion and neoangiogenesis. Transforming Growth Factor-ss1 (TGF-ss1) plays an important role in the biology of high-grade gliomas, partly by regulating invasion of these tumors into parenchyma. This study was designed to evaluate if TGF-ss1 induces the expression and deposition of Tenascin-C in the extracellular matrix of high-grade gliomas which may be pivotal for the invasion of these tumors into healthy parenchyma.
METHODS:
A series of 20 high-grade gliomas was stained immunohistochemically with Tenascin-C- and TGF-ss1- specific antibodies. Expression levels of both proteins were evaluated and correlated with each other, time to progression and molecular and morphological markers of invasion. A quantitative PCR assay was performed evaluating the induction of Tenascin-C mRNA by treatment with TGF-ss1 in vitro.
RESULTS:
Tenascin-C was expressed in 18 of 19 (95%) evaluable tumors, whereas 14 of 20 tumors (70%) expressed TGF-ss1 in a significant percentage of cells. Treatment with TGF-ss1 did induce the expression of Tenascin-C at the mRNA and protein level in vitro. The expression of Tenascin-C and TGF-ss1 did neighter statistically correlate with each other nor with time to progression.
CONCLUSION:
In our series, Tenascin-C and TGF-ss1 were expressed in the vast majority of high-grade gliomas. We could not detect a correlation of one of the proteins with time to progression. Nevertheless, we describe induction of Tenascin-C by TGF-ss1, possibly providing a mechanism for the invasion of high-grade gliomas into healthy parenchyma.