Platelet-derived growth factor and its receptor expression in human oligodendrogliomas

OBJECTIVE: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induces cellular proliferation and differentiation by activating intracellular signaling mechanisms via their cognate receptors. In previous studies, we demonstrated that human brain tumors such as meningiomas, astrocytomas, medulloblastomas, and ependymomas expressed the messenger ribonucleic acid for the PDGF subunits and their receptors. In the present study, we investigated the expression of the messenger ribonucleic acid PDGF A and B chains and the PDGF alpha and beta receptors in 17 cases of oligodendrogliomas. METHODS: Measurements of messenger ribonucleic acid levels were obtained using radioactive complementary deoxyribonucleic acid probes. Protein expression was analyzed with specific antibodies. RESULTS: Sixteen of 17 tumors expressed the PDGF A subunit and all the PDGF alpha receptors. Furthermore, all the tumors expressed PDGF B and PDGE beta receptor subunits. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that oligodendrogliomas may have an autocrine loop stimulated by the interaction of PDGF and its receptor simultaneously produced by these tumors.