Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Quantitative Immunohistochemistry of the Cellular Microenvironment in Patient Glioblastoma Resections
Published on: July 31, 2017
Immunocytochemical detection of 14-3-3 in primary nervous system tumors
Wei-Dong Cao1, Xiang Zhang, Jian-Ning Zhang
1Institute of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi Province, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
14-3-3 proteins have attracted much recent interest in the etiopathogenesis of human cancers owing to their involvement in the prevention of apoptosis. However, the expression of 14-3-3 in primary nervous system tumors has not been previously characterized. In this paper, Immunohistochemistry using a specific anti-14-3-3 antibody was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded archival tissue from 124 primary human nervous system tumors and 10 normal brain tissues. In the normal control brains, 14-3-3 immunoreactivity was localized mainly in the neuronal somata and processes, and some glial cells showed only weak immunoreactivity. However, 14-3-3 immunoreactivity was seen in the majority of astrocytomas [grade I (9/11), II (16/21), III (13/17), IV (17/21)]. There was no difference between the positive expression rates of 14-3-3 in different grades of astrocytomas (P = 0.968). But the intensity and degree of 14-3-3 immunoreactivity in diffuse astrocytomas, anaplastic astrocytoma, and glioblastoma multiformes showed trends with tumor grade, with glioblastomas having the highest positivity (P = 0.048). The 14-3-3 immunoreactivity was also seen in the majority of other gliomas [oligodendroglioma (2/3), anaplastic oligodendroglioma (4/4), ependymoma (1/2), anaplastic ependymoma (2/2), choroid plexus papilloma (3/3), pineocytoma (2/2), medulloblastoma (5/8)]. All meningiomas [syncytical (3), fibrous/fibroblastic (4), angiomatous (4), transitional/mixed (3)] were intensely and diffusely positive. All schwannomas (4), neurofibromas (2), pituitary adenomas (6) and craniopharyngiomas(4) also showed intense positive staining. These results showed that 14-3-3 is expressed in the majority of the primary human nervous system tumors. The up-regulated expression of 14-3-3 may be a common mechanism for evading apoptosis in most primary human nervous system tumors, and targeting 14-3-3 may be a novel promising strategy for the treatment of these tumors, especially for malignant tumors.
Insights
14-3-3 proteins are highly expressed in most primary nervous system tumors, suggesting a role in preventing apoptosis. Targeting these proteins may offer a new treatment strategy for brain tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- 14-3-3 proteins are implicated in cancer pathogenesis due to their anti-apoptotic functions.
- Previous characterization of 14-3-3 expression in primary nervous system tumors is lacking.
- Understanding 14-3-3 expression is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of 14-3-3 proteins in a wide range of primary human nervous system tumors.
- To correlate 14-3-3 expression levels with different tumor types and grades.
- To explore the potential of targeting 14-3-3 as a therapeutic approach for nervous system tumors.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was employed using a specific anti-14-3-3 antibody.
- Analysis was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissues from 124 primary nervous system tumors and 10 normal brain tissues.
- Expression levels were assessed in various tumor types including astrocytomas, gliomas, meningiomas, and others.
Main Results:
- 14-3-3 immunoreactivity was detected in the majority of primary nervous system tumors analyzed.
- While expression rates did not differ significantly across astrocytoma grades, intensity and degree showed a trend with increasing grade, highest in glioblastomas.
- Intense and diffuse 14-3-3 staining was observed in meningiomas, schwannomas, neurofibromas, pituitary adenomas, and craniopharyngiomas.
Conclusions:
- 14-3-3 proteins are widely expressed in most primary human nervous system tumors.
- Upregulated 14-3-3 expression may represent a common mechanism for evading apoptosis in these tumors.
- Targeting 14-3-3 proteins presents a promising novel therapeutic strategy, particularly for malignant nervous system tumors.
