gms | German Medical Science

57th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Neurosurgery
Joint Meeting with the Japanese Neurosurgical Society

German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC)

11 - 14 May, Essen

Filling the gaps: Complete analysis of MMP expression in human malignant glioma

Lücken gefüllt: Komplette Analyse der MMP-Expression durch humane maligne Gliome

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author J. Stojic - Tumorbiologisches Labor, Neurochirurgische Universitätsklinik Würzburg
  • C. Hagemann - Tumorbiologisches Labor, Neurochirurgische Universitätsklinik Würzburg
  • S. Kühnel - Tumorbiologisches Labor, Neurochirurgische Universitätsklinik Würzburg
  • S. Gerngras - Tumorbiologisches Labor, Neurochirurgische Universitätsklinik Würzburg
  • K. Roosen - Tumorbiologisches Labor, Neurochirurgische Universitätsklinik Würzburg
  • G.H. Vince - Tumorbiologisches Labor, Neurochirurgische Universitätsklinik Würzburg

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Japanische Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. 57. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e.V. (DGNC), Joint Meeting mit der Japanischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Essen, 11.-14.05.2006. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2006. DocFR.03.06

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dgnc2006/06dgnc014.shtml

Published: May 8, 2006

© 2006 Stojic et al.
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Outline

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Objective: Matrix metalloproteinases are zink-dependent endopeptidases. They mediate degradation of protein components of the extracellular matrix and of basement membranes and play a key role in many physiological processes. Increased expression and activity also contribute to several pathological processes such as cancer progression. Overexpression of MMPs by brain tumor cells is a prerequisite for migration and invasion into the surrounding tissue. However, for several of the 23 human MMPs there are no, very limited or opposing literature data concerning expression by astrocytic tumors available. Therefore, we screened an extrensive panel of 15 low grade astrocytoma and 15 glioblastoma for expression of such MMPs in order to fill the gaps of our knowledge in MMP expression by brain tumors.

Methods: Expression analysis of MMPs in normal brain and brain tumor samples from patients were performed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Total RNA was used as template. Specific primers were designed in flanking exons. The various cDNA concentrations were normalized to those of GAPDH as an internal loading control.

Results: Literature studies revealed availability of limited data about MMP1, 8, 10, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27 and 28 expression. Therefore, these MMPs were analysed using semiquantitative RT-PCR. Our data in combination with literature data showed that MMP2, 7, 9, 12, 14, 15 and 25 are expressionally correlated with the tumor grade, whereas MMP3, 8, 10, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27 and 28 do not seem to play a major role during glioblastoma development. They are either constitutively expressed or not expressed at all. The available data for MMP1, 11, 19 and 24 are contradictory, since some studies, including our own, suggest their involvement during brain tumor development and the results of other groups deny such connection.

Conclusions: This is the first complete compilation of expression of all 23 human MMPs by astrocytic tumors. Several MMPs are clearly overexpressed by these malignancies, whereas others are not or ubiquitously expressed, independently of the tumor grade. However, mRNA expression level give only a first hint, which MMPs might be of importance in glioblastomas. MMP regulation is very complex and involves signal transduction, transcription factor regulation, inhibitors and interdependency with other MMPs. Knowledge about details for expression and activation of MMPs will help to find more effective therapeutic means for treatment of glioblastomas.