Expression and significance of sonic hedgehog signaling pathway-related components in brainstem and supratentorial astrocytomas  

作　　者：XIN Yu HAO Shu-yu TIAN Yong-ji ZHANG lun-ting WU Zhen WAN Hong LI Jun-hua JIANG Jian ZHANG Li-wei 

机构地区：[1]Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China [2]Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China

出　　处：《Chinese Medical Journal》2011年第21期3515-3520,共6页中华医学杂志（英文版）

基　　金：This work was supported by grants-from the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 30772237 and No. 30900479）.

摘　　要：Background Studies have shown that abnormal activation of the sonic hedgehog pathway is closely related to tumorigenesis in central nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the role of the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway in the occurrence of brainstem and supratentorial glioma. Methods Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （qRT-PCR） and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of sonic hedgehog-related components in 5 specimens of normal brain tissue, 10 of grade II brainstem glioma, and 10 of grade II supratentorial glioma. The significance of differences between two groups was determined using the Mann-Whitney U test or the two-sample test according to the results of normality distribution tests. Results The mRNA expression levels of sonic hedgehog-related genes were higher in brainstem astrocytomas than in supratentorial astrocytomas and normal brain tissue. The level of protein patched homolog 1 （PTCH1） was significantly higher in brainstem astrocytomas than in supratentorial astrocytomas and normal brain tissue （P 〈0.01）. Immunohistochemistry semi-quantitative analysis was consistent with the qRT-PCR result that PTCH1 expression was increased significantly in brainstem astrocytomas at the protein level （P 〈0.05）. Conclusions Enhanced PTCH1 expression and activation of the sonic hedgehog pathway are involved in brainstem glioma. This may be related to the difference in malignant biological behavior between brainstem and hemispheric glioma and could be an ideal therapeutic target in brainstem glioma.Background Studies have shown that abnormal activation of the sonic hedgehog pathway is closely related to tumorigenesis in central nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the role of the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway in the occurrence of brainstem and supratentorial glioma. Methods Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （qRT-PCR） and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of sonic hedgehog-related components in 5 specimens of normal brain tissue, 10 of grade II brainstem glioma, and 10 of grade II supratentorial glioma. The significance of differences between two groups was determined using the Mann-Whitney U test or the two-sample test according to the results of normality distribution tests. Results The mRNA expression levels of sonic hedgehog-related genes were higher in brainstem astrocytomas than in supratentorial astrocytomas and normal brain tissue. The level of protein patched homolog 1 （PTCH1） was significantly higher in brainstem astrocytomas than in supratentorial astrocytomas and normal brain tissue （P 〈0.01）. Immunohistochemistry semi-quantitative analysis was consistent with the qRT-PCR result that PTCH1 expression was increased significantly in brainstem astrocytomas at the protein level （P 〈0.05）. Conclusions Enhanced PTCH1 expression and activation of the sonic hedgehog pathway are involved in brainstem glioma. This may be related to the difference in malignant biological behavior between brainstem and hemispheric glioma and could be an ideal therapeutic target in brainstem glioma.

关 键 词：ASTROCYTOMA GLIOMA brain stem Protein patched homolog 1 glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 

分 类 号：R739.4[医药卫生—肿瘤]