Expression of Nerve Growth Factor and Nerve Growth Factor Receptor Genes in Human Tissues and in Prostatic Adenocarcinoma Cell Lines

Abstract

Nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNAs were detected and quantified in a variety of normal and neoplastic human tissues by northern blot hybridization. Human heart contained the highest NGF mRNA levels, whereas lower but comparable levels were found in the placenta, prostate, and kidney. All tissues examined coexpressed the low-affinity NGF receptor (LNGFR), whereas none of these tissues expressed the high-affinity NGF receptor encoded by the trk protooncogene. The widespread distribution of the LNGFR suggests that it plays a role in the regulation of normal cell growth. No overexpression of NGF or LNGFR mRNA was detected in neoplastic tissues, whereas LNGFR-like immunoreactivity was localized outside of tumor cells. Transforming growth factor-alpha and protooncogene c-fos expression in these tissues did not show a systematic correlation with NGF/LNGFR expression. Furthermore, regulation of the human NGF gene was studied in DU145 cells, a prostatic adenocarcinoma cell line that synthesizes significant NGF mRNA levels. Serum induced, whereas dexamethasone inhibited, NGF mRNA synthesis in these cells. Serum induction was preceded by a rapid and transient activation of the c-fos protooncogene.

Peptidergic innervation of human esophageal and cardiac carcinoma

“…The SDS electrophoresis (data not shown) of the tumor-conditioned medium confirmed this assumption and demonstrated that one of them was NGF. Many kinds of tumors have been found secrete NGF, BDNF, NT-3, etc [26][27][28] . NGF high-affinity receptor TrkA was also found to exist in esophageal carcinoma [29] .…”

The expression and localisation of beta-nerve growth factor (beta-NGF) in benign and malignant human prostate tissue: relationship to neuroendocrine differentiation

“…In the prostates of rodents, it may be present in high concentration and is localised to prostate epithelium (Harper and Thoenen, 1980;Shikata et al, 1984;MacGrogan et al, 1990). Recently, MacGrogan et al have found f,-NGF expression and variable ,B-NGF concentrations (0-1720 pg g-') in human benign hyperplastic (BPH) tissue (MacGrogan et al, 1992).…”

Estrogen in combination with 5-azacitidine up-regulates p75NTR expression and induces apoptosis in 22Rv1 prostate cancer cells

“…p75NTR exhibits a partial loss of expression during malignant transformation of the prostate and is almost totally lost in most prostate cancer cell lines (30,31). However, the p75NTR gene remains intact in these cells, indicating that the potential for up-regulation still exists (11,32). Inducing or re-expressing this receptor in prostate cancer cells can induce cell cycle arrest and may facilitate apoptosis (33,34).…”

“…It has been reported that neurotrophins stimulate cell proliferation in androgenrefractory prostate cancer cell lines (10), exerting their effects by binding to the corresponding receptors (11). There are two types of neurotrophin receptors present in the prostate, the proto-oncogene tyrosine receptor kinase trkA and the 75-kDa glycoprotein p75NTR, which is a member of the TNF receptor superfamily.…”