W. Debinski et al., Expression of a restrictive receptor for interleukin 13 is associated withglial transformation, J NEURO-ONC, 48(2), 2000, pp. 103-111
We have previously documented that the vast majority of high-grade gliomas
over-express binding sites for interleukin 13 (IL13) in situ. We now extend
this analysis to evaluate the distribution of the binding of IL13 among ot
her brain tumors. Tumor specimens from patients with low-grade gliomas, oli
godendrogliomas, ependymomas, pilocytic astrocytomas, gliosarcomas, medullo
blastomas, meningiomas, and metastases to the brain were analyzed and compa
red to a new series of gioblastoma multiforme (GBM) samples. Serial tumor t
issue sections were incubated with I-125-labeled (i) IL13, (ii) antibody ag
ainst transferrin (Tf) receptor, and (iii) epidermal growth factor (EGF). M
ost (17/18) GBMs stained specifically for IL13 binding sites while sections
from 3/11 low-grade gliomas, 5/5 high-grade gliomas (grade III), 3/5 oligo
dendrogliomas (all three were anaplastic), and 1/2 gliosarcomas also showed
specific binding for IL13. We did not detect IL13 binding sites in medullo
blastomas (0/4) and found them only in 2/20 meningiomas. Metastases to the
brain (4/12, i.e., lung adenocarcinomas and renal cell carcinoma) showed so
me binding of I-125-IL13. The presence of receptors for Tf was ubiquitous a
mong all studied tumors while EGF receptor expression was much more variabl
e. Since it appears that primarily the least differentiated forms of glioma
s possess IL13 binding sites in abundance, it is plausible that IL13 recept
or expressed in low-grade gliomas might be a prognostically significant mar
ker associated with their progression to high-grade gliomas. Finally, we de
monstrate that the glioma-associated IL13 receptor is truly more restrictiv
e in nature also due to its selective representation among brain tumors of
glial origin.