Reed J A, McNutt N S, Prieto V G, Albino A P
Department of Pathology, New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center, New York.
Am J Pathol. 1994 Jul;145(1):97-104.
Transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-beta 2) is a potent regulatory of proliferation and differentiation of both normal and malignant cells. In addition, TGF-beta 2 can exert a variety of immunosuppressive effects, suggesting that the production of this molecule contributes to impaired immunological surveillance of tumor development. In vitro, TGF-beta 2 expression has been demonstrated in cell lines derived from metastatic malignant melanocytes. but not in those derived from normal melanocytes. We sought to evaluate a potential role of TGF-beta 2 in the initiation or progression of malignant melanoma in vivo. We examined by nucleic acid in situ hybridization the expression of TGF-beta 2 mRNA transcripts in 124 melanocytic lesions including metastatic and primary invasive melanomas, melanomas in situ, nevi with architectural disorder and cytologic atypia, ordinary benign melanocytic nevi, and Spitz nevi. All metastatic melanomas and a majority (94%) of primary melanomas invasive to Clark's level III, IV, or V expressed TGF-beta 2 mRNA. A minority (41%) of Clark's level II primary invasive melanomas expressed this factor. All definitive melanomas in situ and nevi were negative. The results suggest that TGF-beta 2 expression in malignant melanoma may be a critical event in the development of deep invasion and metastases in malignant melanoma.
转化生长因子-β2（TGF-β2）是正常细胞和恶性细胞增殖与分化的有效调节因子。此外，TGF-β2可发挥多种免疫抑制作用，这表明该分子的产生会导致肿瘤发生时免疫监视功能受损。在体外，已证实在源自转移性恶性黑素细胞的细胞系中有TGF-β2表达，但在源自正常黑素细胞的细胞系中则没有。我们试图评估TGF-β2在体内恶性黑色素瘤起始或进展过程中的潜在作用。我们通过核酸原位杂交检测了124个黑素细胞性病变中TGF-β2 mRNA转录本的表达，这些病变包括转移性和原发性浸润性黑色素瘤、原位黑色素瘤、具有结构紊乱和细胞学异型性的痣、普通良性黑素细胞痣以及Spitz痣。所有转移性黑色素瘤以及大多数（94%）浸润至Clark分级III、IV或V级的原发性黑色素瘤均表达TGF-β2 mRNA。少数（41%）Clark分级II级的原发性浸润性黑色素瘤表达该因子。所有确诊的原位黑色素瘤和痣均为阴性。结果表明，恶性黑色素瘤中TGF-β2的表达可能是恶性黑色素瘤发生深度浸润和转移的关键事件。
