GATA factors in human neuroblastoma: distinctive expression patterns in clinical subtypes.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to elucidate the expression patterns of GATA transcription factors in neuroblastoma and the developing sympathetic nervous system (SNS). METHODS: GATA-2, -3 and -4 and their cofactor friend-of-GATA (FOG)-2 were investigated in primary neuroblastoma by immunohistochemistry, real-time RT-PCR (n=73) and microarray analysis (n=251). In addition, GATA-2, -3 and FOG-2 expression was determined by northern-blot hybridisation. In the developing murine SNS, Gata-4 and Fog-2 were examined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Although Gata-2, -3 and Fog-2 are expressed in the developing nervous system, Gata-4 was not detected. In contrast, protein expression of all factors was observed in human neuroblastoma. Northern-blot hybridisation and real-time RT-PCR suggested specific expression patterns of the four genes in primary neuroblastoma, but did not show unequivocal results. In the large cohort examined by microarrays, a significant association of GATA-2, -3 and FOG-2 expression with low-risk features was observed, whereas GATA-4 mRNA levels correlated with MYCN-amplification. CONCLUSION: The transcription factors GATA-2 and -3, which are essential for normal SNS development, and their cofactor FOG-2 are downregulated in aggressive but not in favourable neuroblastoma. In contrast, upregulation of GATA-4 appears to be a common feature of this malignancy and might contribute to neuroblastoma pathogenesis.

Author information

Author/s: Hoene, V (V); Fischer, M (M); Ivanova, A (A); Wallach, T (T); Berthold, F (F); Dame, C (C);

Affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: British journal of cancer (Br J Cancer), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 101 (issue 8) : pp 1481-9

Dates: Created 2009/10/14; Completed 2009/10/28; Revised 2009/10/28;

PMID: 19707195, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/29/2009, IMS Date: )

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Associated Chemicals: DNA-Binding Proteins (0) ; GATA Transcription Factors (0) ; GATA2 Transcription Factor (0) ; GATA2 protein, human (0) ; GATA3 Transcription Factor (0) ; GATA3 protein, human (0) ; GATA4 Transcription Factor (0) ; GATA4 protein, human (0) ; MYCN protein, human (0) ; Nuclear Proteins (0) ; Oncogene Proteins (0) ; RNA, Messenger (0) ; Transcription Factors (0) ; ZFPM2 protein, human (0)

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