Platelet-derived growth factor expression and stimulation in human meningiomas

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Abstract
✓ The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family consists of subunits A and B and receptors α and β. This paper evaluates the potential role of the homodimer PDGF-BB as a growth factor in meningiomas. It analyzes the expression of messenger RNA in members of the PDGF family in these tumors, measures the growth response of meningiomas to exogenous PDGF-BB in culture, and examines the induction of the c-fos proto-oncogene by PDGF-BB. Northern blot analysis was carried out on tissue from 20 meningiomas to measure the expression of PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGF-α receptor (PDGF-α-R) and PDGF-β receptor (PDGF-β-R). All tumors expressed PDGF-A and PDGF-B subunits. Nineteen of the 20 tumors expressed PDGF-β-R and none expressed PDGF-α-R as measured by this technique. Because the β receptor is selectively sensitive to stimulation by the PDGF-B subunit, these data suggest that meningiomas might be susceptible to stimulation by PDGF-BB. To test this hypothesis, the effect of exogenous PDGF-BB on meningioma growth was eval...