ADAM12 is selectively overexpressed in human glioblastomas and is associated with glioblastoma cell proliferation and shedding of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor
2004
ADAMs (a
disintegrinand metalloproteinases) are multifunctional molecules involved in cell-
cell fusion, cell adhesion, membrane protein shedding, and proteolysis. In the present study, we examined the mRNA expression of 13 different ADAM species with putative metalloproteinase activity in human astrocytic tumors, nonneoplastic brain tissues, and other intracranial tumors by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and found that prototype membrane-anchored
ADAM12(ADAM12m) is predominantly expressed in
glioblastomas. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction indicated that the expression level of ADAM12m is remarkably at least 5.7-fold higher in
glioblastomas(n = 16) than in nonneoplastic brain tissues (n = 6), low grade (n = 7) and anaplastic astrocytic tumors (n = 9) (P < 0.05 for each group), and intracranial neurinomas (n = 5) (P < 0.01). In situ hybridization showed that
glioblastomacells are responsible for the gene expression. By immunohistochemistry, ADAM12m was predominantly immunolocalized on the cell membranes of
glioblastomacells. Immunoblotting analysis demonstrated that ADAM12m is expressed as an activated N-glycosylated form of ∼90 kd in
glioblastomatissues. There was a direct correlation between the mRNA expression levels of ADAM12m and proliferative activity (MIB1-positive cell index) of gliomas (r = 0.791, P < 0.0001; n = 32). Protein bands consistent with the soluble form of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor, a substrate of ADAM12m, were observed by immunoblotting in
glioblastomasamples with the ADAM12m expression, and inhibited by treatment with ADAM inhibitor of the
glioblastomas. These data demonstrate for the first time that among the 13 different ADAM species, ADAM12m is highly expressed in human
glioblastomas, and suggest the possibility that ADAM12m plays a role in the prominent proliferation of the
glioblastomasthrough shedding of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor.
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