Expression of calcitonin receptor-like receptor in human vascular tumours
- 1Institute of Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- 2Institute of Pathology and Zytology, Wetzlar, Germany
- 3Institute of Molecular Virology, Neuherberg, Germany
- 4Molecular and Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nürnberg, Germany
- Correspondence to: S Hagner Institut für Normale und Pathologische Physiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Deutschhausstr 2, D-35037 Marburg, Germany; hagnerbe{at}staff.uni-marburg.de
- Revised 12 September 2005
Abstract
Background: Vascular tumours such as Kaposi’s sarcoma and capillary haemangioma are characterised by abnormal vascularisation and proliferation of endothelial cells or neoplastic cells. Adrenomedullin, a potent vasodilative peptide, and its receptor, calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR), play an important part in angiogenesis.
Aim: To establish whether this system also plays a part in vascular diseases, showing abnormal proliferation such as vascular tumours.
Methods: CRLR expression was investigated in several specimens of Kaposi’s sarcoma and other vascular tumours, using immunohistochemical analysis with a previously described CRLR-specific polyclonal antibody and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Intense and specific CRLR-immunoreactive staining of neoplastic cells was observed in all specimens, which was of greater intensity than similar staining of adjacent normal endothelium.
Conclusions: CRLR is expressed in vascular tumours and, with adrenomedullin, may have a role in neoplastic vascular growth.
- ADM, adrenomedullin
- CRLR, calcitonin receptor-like receptor
- CRLR-LI, calcitonin receptor-like receptor-like immunoreactivity
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- RAMP, receptor activity-modifying protein
- VEGF, vascular endothelial-derived growth factor
Footnotes
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Competing interests: None declared.
