Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Wang, Da-Gong
• Johnston, Colin F.
• Barros D'Sa, Aires A. B.
• Buchanan, Keith D.

Titel

Expression of apoptosis-suppressing gene bcl-2 in human carotid body tumours

Ist Teil von

• The Journal of pathology, 1997-10, Vol.183 (2), p.218-221

Ort / Verlag

Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

1997

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• That carotid body tumours have a genetic aetiology is suggested by the familial occurrence of the neoplasm. Environmental influences are also implied by the fact that the tumour is more common in those living at high altitudes. However, the mechanism of development of sporadic tumours occurring at sea level, which account for the majority of cases, remains unknown. It has become increasingly clear that the deregulation of programmed cell death is a critical component in multistep tumourigenesis. Previous studies have demonstrated a high frequency of bcl‐2 expression in the tumours arising from cells derived from the neural crest and tumour cell lines of neural origin. This investigation was undertaken to determine whether similar molecular events occur in human carotid body tumours. Western and Northern analysis revealed that the tumours expressed the 26 kD protein and bcl‐2 transcripts. Immunoperoxidase staining, using a monoclonal anti‐bcl‐2 antibody, revealed that 11 out of 13 specimens stained positively for bcl‐2. These results suggest that the deregulation of programmed cell death may be a critical component in the multistep tumourigenesis of carotid body tumours and that the expression of oncoprotein bcl‐2 may contribute to the generation of such tumours. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.