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Evaluation of Biomarkers in Glioma by Immunohistochemistry on Paraffin-Embedded 3D Glioma Neurosphere Cultures
Published on: January 9, 2019
[Connexin 43 expression in human brain glial tumors]
E Yu Kirichenko1, A F Savchenko2, D V Kozachenko2
1D.I. Ivanovsky Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia.
Arkhiv Patologii
|April 19, 2017
Summary
Connexin 43 expression decreases in high-grade glial tumors, indicating reduced gap junctions and potential loss of antioncogenic properties. This change is linked to kinase activity in malignant brain gliomas.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Glial tumors are a significant cause of brain cancer.
- Connexin 43 (Cx43) plays a role in cell communication and has potential tumor-suppressive functions.
- Altered Cx43 expression is observed in various cancers, but its role in different grades of glial tumors requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of connexin 43 (Cx43) in different grades of human glial tumors.
- To correlate Cx43 expression levels with tumor malignancy.
- To understand the cellular localization of Cx43 in glial tumors.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on tissue samples from gemistocytic astrocytomas (Grade 2), oligodendrogliomas (Grade 2), and glioblastomas (Grade 4).
- Primary antibodies against connexin 43 were used, followed by a visualization system and hematoxylin counterstaining.
- Expression patterns were analyzed and compared between tumor types and with surrounding normal tissue.
Main Results:
- Immunohistochemistry revealed altered connexin 43 expression patterns in glial tumors compared to intact tissue.
- Tumors showed predominantly coarse-grained cytoplasmic and nuclear Cx43 expression, differing from the fine-granular expression in normal neuropil.
- A significant reduction in Cx43 expression was observed in higher-grade, more malignant gliomas, suggesting an inverse relationship between Cx43 levels and tumor grade.
Conclusions:
- Reduced connexin 43 expression in high-grade gliomas may indicate diminished functional gap junctions and loss of its antioncogenic properties.
- The observed cytoplasmic and nuclear localization of Cx43 suggests its aberrant activity is linked to kinases like Src and PKC.
- Cx43 expression serves as a potential biomarker for glial tumor malignancy.
