[Exceptionally high content of mRNA of IGF-II-associated protein in meningiomas]

A comparison of gene expression profiles in different types of human brain tumours and normal brain by Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE) revealed exceptionally high content of CTTGGGTTTT tag in meningioma and ependimoma SAGE-libraries. A search of the most relevant gene for this tag on the website "SAGE Anatomic Viewer" showed that it belonged to the nucleotide sequence of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) gene as well as to the open reading frame 43 on a chromosome 11 (C11orf43). This nucleotide sequence encodes putative insulin-like growth factor II associated protein (IGF-IIA). mRNA for this protein is produced as a result of the processing of IGF-II gene primary transcript. Northern analysis of glial tumours and meningiomas showed the exceptionally high level of mRNA of IGF-II-associated protein in meningiomas. Protein, encoded by this mRNA, can play the important role in meningioma formation and may be used as their specific molecular marker.