APOBEC3B expression in human leptomeninges and meningiomas

Nucleic acid-editing enzymes of the apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme (APOBEC) family have been associated with somatic mutation in cancer. However, the role of APOBEC catalytic subunit 3B (APOBEC3B) editing in the pathogenesis of base substitutions in meningiomas is unknown. In the present study, the expression of APOBEC3B was examined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot analyses in five fetal and one adult human leptomeninges and 38 meningiomas. Genomic DNA was sequenced using the Illumina Tru-Seq Cancer Panel. Three meningioma primary cultures were also established and treated with cerebrospinal fluid form patients without neurological disease or platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), prior to evaluation of APOBEC3B expression. By western blotting, APOBEC3B was revealed to be present in 100% of the fetal leptomeninges, and in 88% of World Health Organization grade I, 100% of grade II and 83% of grade III meningiomas tested, but was not different between grades. RT-qPCR revealed no difference in the mRNA expression of APOBEC3B between grades. Sequencing revealed no elevated levels of the C>T mutations that are characteristic of APOBEC3B editing of genomic DNA. Treatment with cerebrospinal fluid and PDGF-BB had no effect on APOBEC3B protein expression in the leptomeningeal or meningioma cells. These findings suggest that the mutations associated with increased APOBEC3B expression may not be central to the pathogenesis of meningiomas.