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Updated: Aug 19, 2026
A Three-dimensional Tissue Culture Model to Study Primary Human Bone Marrow and its Malignancies
Published on: March 8, 2014
The expression of ADAM12 (meltrin alpha) in human giant cell tumours of bone
1Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, People's Republic of China.
Aims:
To examine the expression of ADAM12 (meltrin alpha), a member of the disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) family, in human giant cell tumours of the bone, skeletal muscle tissue from human embryos, and human adult skeletal muscle tissue.
Methods:
ADAM12 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridisation.
Results:
ADAM12 mRNA was detected in 14 of the 20 giant cell tumours of bone and in three of the six tumour cell cultures. The expression of ADAM12 in cells cultured from the tumour was linked to the presence of multinucleated giant cells. ADAM12 mRNA could not be detected in the five adult skeletal muscle tissue samples, although it was found in the two embryonic skeletal muscle tissue samples. ADAM12 mRNA was localised to the cytoplasm of multinucleated giant cells and some mononuclear stromal cells.
Conclusions:
These results indicate that multinucleated giant cells are formed by the cell fusion of mononuclear stromal cells in giant cell tumours of bone and that ADAM12 is involved in the cell fusion process.
Insights
ADAM12 (meltrin alpha) is expressed in giant cell tumors of bone, suggesting its role in multinucleated giant cell formation through cell fusion. It was also found in embryonic muscle but not adult muscle.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Cell biology
- Oncology
Background:
- ADAM12 (meltrin alpha) is a member of the disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) family.
- Giant cell tumors of bone are characterized by multinucleated giant cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of ADAM12 in human giant cell tumors of bone.
- To compare ADAM12 expression in bone tumors with embryonic and adult human skeletal muscle.
Main Methods:
- Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect ADAM12 mRNA.
- In situ hybridization was employed to localize ADAM12 mRNA expression.
Main Results:
- ADAM12 mRNA was detected in 14/20 giant cell tumors and 3/6 tumor cell cultures.
- Expression was linked to multinucleated giant cells and observed in embryonic skeletal muscle but not adult skeletal muscle.
- ADAM12 mRNA localized to the cytoplasm of multinucleated giant cells and mononuclear stromal cells.
Conclusions:
- Multinucleated giant cells in bone tumors likely arise from mononuclear stromal cell fusion.
- ADAM12 plays a role in the cell fusion process during giant cell tumor formation.
