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Neurotrophic factor expression in childhood low-grade astrocytomas and ependymomas

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Abstract

Background

Neurotrophic factors (nerve growth factor [NGF], brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF] and glial-derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF]) are growth factors implicated in the growth and differentiation of brain nerve cells. An involvement of these factors in the biology and progression of some specific tumours has been suggested. In accordance with the role of neurotrophic factors in tumour behaviour the aim of the present study was to investigate their expression in two childhood brain neoplasms, namely low-grade astrocytomas and ependymomas.

Materials and methods

We investigated the NGF, BDNF, GDNF and NGF receptors (TrkA and p75) expression in the tumour tissues, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of ten children affected by low-grade astrocytomas and ependymomas. Control tissue samples (together with CSF and plasma samples) were obtained from patients who underwent surgery for cerebral vascular or epileptogenic lesions.

Results

The expression of NGF decreases both in tumour samples and in the CSF of affected children compared with controls. BDNF instead increases in CSF, while the expression of GDNF remains unchanged both in tissues and in CSF. No differences were found in neurotrophic factor plasma levels in patients or in controls. Gene expression of NGF and its high-affinity receptor (TrkA) are reduced in tumour tissues, whereas the number of cells immunopositive to the low-affinity NGF receptor (p75) is increased.

Conclusion

Reduced expression of NGF and TrkA has been shown in low-grade astrocytomas and ependymomas. These findings may be related to the role of this neurotrophin in cell differentiation and apoptosis. The different expression of NGF, BDNF, and GDNF in low-grade astrocytomas and ependymomas suggests that a different degree of redundancy exists among members of the neurotrophic factor family and that their expression may be correlated with the biology and the behaviour of these tumours.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche and Fondazione CARISBO, Bologna, to Luigi Aloe, and by the Project on Neurotrophic Factor Expression, MIUR 2003, from the Catholic University Medical School of Rome, Italy, to Concezio Di Rocco.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy

    Antonio Chiaretti & Marco Piastra

  2. Institute of Neurobiology, CNR, Rome, Italy

    Luigi Aloe & Alessia Antonelli

  3. Paediatric Oncology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    Antonio Ruggiero & Riccardo Riccardi

  4. Paediatric Neurosurgery, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    Giampiero Tamburrini & Concezio Di Rocco

Authors
  1. Antonio Chiaretti
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  2. Luigi Aloe
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  3. Alessia Antonelli
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  4. Antonio Ruggiero
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  5. Marco Piastra
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  7. Giampiero Tamburrini
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  8. Concezio Di Rocco
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Correspondence to Antonio Chiaretti.

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Chiaretti, A., Aloe, L., Antonelli, A. et al. Neurotrophic factor expression in childhood low-grade astrocytomas and ependymomas. Childs Nerv Syst 20, 412–419 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-004-0959-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-004-0959-6

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