[A study of gene expression of PDGFBB and PDGFR as well as level of PDGFR activity in human glioma cells].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of PDGFBB autocrine loop on the development and progression of human gliomas.

METHODS

73 human glioma specimens of different stages were studied using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical techniques.

RESULTS

62 (84.9%) of 73 cases expressed PDGFB mRNA. The positive rate and the amount of PDGFB mRNA increased correspondingly with the degree of malignancy. All of 73 gliomas expressed PDGFR alpha, PDGFR beta and phosphotyrosine protein (P-Tyr). The positive cell densities of PDGFR alpha, PDGFR beta and P-Tyr correlated positively with one another and increased with the malignancy as well as the expression level of PDGFB mRNA in the gliomas. However, there was no significant difference between positive cell densities of PDGFR alpha and PDGFR beta in any glioma group with different grading.

CONCLUSIONS

PDGFBB autocrine loop existed generally in the glioma cells, the expression levels of PDGFBB and PDGFRs were well correlated with the tumor grading and the positive cell density of P-Tyr which could objectively reflect the activity of PDGFRs and the signal pathways. It's suggested that abnormally increased activity of PDGFBB autocrine loop might play an important role in the development and progression of gliomas.