Differential Gene Expression of Eph Receptors and Ephrins in Benign Human Tissues and Cancers

• Published in: Clinical chemistry (Baltimore, Md.) Md.), 2004-03, Vol.50 (3), p.490-499
• Main Authors: Hafner, Christian, Schmitz, Gerd, Meyer, Stefanie, Bataille, Frauke, Hau, Peter, Langmann, Thomas, Dietmaier, Wolfgang, Landthaler, Michael, Vogt, Thomas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Bladder; Brain cancer; Carcinogenesis; Colon; Ephrins - biosynthesis; Ephrins - genetics; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Kidneys; Kinases; Ligands; Liver cancer; Lung cancer; Male; Medical sciences; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - metabolism; Organ Specificity; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Prostate; Receptors, Eph Family - biosynthesis; Receptors, Eph Family - genetics; Tissues; Tumors
• ISSN: 0009-9147; 1530-8561
• DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2003.026849

Eph receptors and their ligands, the ephrins, represent a large class of cell-cell communication molecules with well-defined developmental functions. Their role in healthy adult tissues and in human disease is still largely unknown, although diverse roles in carcinogenesis have been postulated. We established a set of fluorescent PCR probes and primers for the definition of individual gene expression profiles of 12 different Eph receptors and 8 ephrins in 13 different healthy tissues. The mRNA expression profiles were studied in human lung, colorectal, kidney, liver, and brain cancers. The family of Eph receptors/ephrins was widely expressed in adult tissues with organ-site-specific patterns: EphB6 was highest in the thymus, compatible with an involvement in T-cell maturation. Brain and testis shared a unique pattern with EphA6, EphA8, and EphB1 being the most prominent. EphA7 had a high abundance in the kidney vasculature. Ephrin-A3 was up-regulated 26-fold in lung cancer, and EphB2 was up-regulated 9-fold in hepatocellular carcinoma. EphA8 was down-regulated in colon cancer, and EphA1/EphA8 was down-regulated in glioblastomas. Eph/Ephrin genes are widely expressed in all adult organs with certain organ-site-specific patterns. Because their function in adult tissues remains unknown, further analysis of their role in disease may disclose new insights beyond their well-defined meaning in development.