EXPRESSION OF NM23-H1 IN HUMAN MENINGIOMA CELLS

The expression of nm23-H1 has been demonstrated to be highly correlate d with the metastatic potential of various tumors. In the present inve stigation, meningiomas of different pathological grades were used to s tudy on their nm23-H1 expression. Immunohistochemistry showed that nm2 3-H1 was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm especially in the perinucle ar region in explants under short-term culture. Western-blotting demon strated the specific expression of nm23 protein in all tumor samples. The expression was also found to be sex-dependent on tumor progression in female, but not in male patients. RT-PCR result confirmed nm23-H1 expression was higher in benign tumors than in their normal counterpar t. Our observations thus suggest that nm23-H1 may play an important ro le in the progression of meningiomas in female patients.