Rp. Glick et al., IDENTIFICATION OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR (IGF) AND GLUCOSE TRANSPORTER-1 AND TRANSPORTER-3 MESSENGER-RNA IN CNS TUMORS, Regulatory peptides, 48(1-2), 1993, pp. 251-256
Glucose metabolism is increased in CNS tumors and correlates with mali
gnant grade. We have previously investigated the role of IGFs in regul
ating CNS tumor growth and metabolism. In the present study we examine
d total cellular RNA from human CNS tumors for the presence for glucos
e transporter (Glut) and IGF mRNA. Human meningiomas and gliomas were
frozen in liquid nitrogen at the time of surgery and then stored at -8
0-degrees-C. Total cellular RNA was prepared by acid-guanidinium pheno
l-chloroform extraction and 20 mug of RNA was loaded for agarose-forma
ldehyde gel electrophoresis and transfer. RNA integrity in 5 meningiom
as and 2 gliomas was confirmed by ethidium bromide staining of 28S and
18S ribosomal RNA and hybridization with a cDNA probe for beta-actin.
For analysis, membranes were hybridized to radioactively labeled huma
n Glut-1, Glut-3, IGF-I, and IGF-II cDNA probes, and mRNA transcripts
were identified by autoradiography. All 7 tumors expressed Glut-I and
Glut-3 mRNA and Glut-3 appeared to be more abundant in meningiomas. IG
F-II mRNA was detected in 2 of 6 meningiomas and in both gliomas. IGFs
may play an important role in the regulation of glucose metabolism in
CNS tumors. IGFs and specific glucose transporters may prove useful a
s markers of malignancy and potential targets for future therapy.