This Article Order Full text via Infotrieve Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Donovan, M. J. Articles by Schofield, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Donovan, M. J. Articles by Schofield, D.

American Journal of Pathology, Vol 145, 792-801, Copyright © 1994 by American Society for Investigative Pathology

REGULAR ARTICLES

Identification of the neurotrophin receptors p75 and trk in a series of Wilms' tumors

MJ Donovan, B Hempstead, LJ Huber, D Kaplan, P Tsoulfas, M Chao, L Parada and D Schofield
Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.

The molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of Wilms' tumor (WT) are poorly understood, although a variety of growth factors including platelet-derived growth factor and insulin-like growth factor are expressed and are thought to contribute to tumor development. In earlier studies, WT cells in culture were found to express the low affinity nerve growth factor receptor, p75. These WT cells were capable of responding to the neurotrophin (NT) NGF, suggesting that NT may be involved in WT pathogenesis. We have examined a group of WT immunohistochemically with antibodies recognizing known trk receptor proteins, the p75 receptor, and the NTs, NGF and NT-3. Confirmatory immunoprecipitation and Western blots were then performed on representative WT samples from the study group. The p75 receptor was found predominantly in the epithelial and blastemal components where high levels of NT were also identified. The trk A and B receptors were primarily within stromal components, whereas the trk C and C' receptors were present within epithelial structures. Western blot analyses confirmed the presence of the respective receptor proteins with variations correlating in some cases with histological type. The selective presence of NT receptors and growth factors in this series of WT implies autocrine/paracrine mechanisms for tumor development.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. N. Pearse, S. L. Swendeman, Y. Li, D. Rafii, and B. L. Hempstead A neurotrophin axis in myeloma: TrkB and BDNF promote tumor-cell survival Blood, June 1, 2005; 105(11): 4429 - 4436. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Miknyoczki, W. Wan, H. Chang, P. Dobrzanski, B. A. Ruggeri, C. A. Dionne, and K. Buchkovich The Neurotrophin-Trk Receptor Axes Are Critical for the Growth and Progression of Human Prostatic Carcinoma and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Xenografts in Nude Mice Clin. Cancer Res., June 1, 2002; 8(6): 1924 - 1931. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Eggert, M. A. Grotzer, N. Ikegaki, H. Zhao, A. Cnaan, G. M. Brodeur, and A. E. Evans Expression of the Neurotrophin Receptor TrkB Is Associated With Unfavorable Outcome in Wilms' Tumor J. Clin. Oncol., February 1, 2001; 19(3): 689 - 696. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Esposito, P. Patel, R. M. Stephens, P. Perez, M. V. Chao, D. R. Kaplan, and B. L. Hempstead The Cytoplasmic and Transmembrane Domains of the p75 and Trk A Receptors Regulate High Affinity Binding to Nerve Growth Factor J. Biol. Chem., August 24, 2001; 276(35): 32687 - 32695. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]