Browsing by Author "Klein, Gerd (7403534358)"

Cadherins represent a family of calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules with an important regulatory function for maintenance of tissue architecture. Alterations of cadherin expression have been demonstrated in the development and progression of different epithelial tumors. In renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the majority of tumors express N-cadherin and cadherin-6. Screening a series of 16 RCC cell lines for the expression of different novel type II cadherins by RT-PCR revealed a complex pattern of cadherin expression: cadherins 6 and 14 were expressed in most of the RCC cell lines, whereas cadherins 11, 12 and 13 could not be detected at all. Interestingly, cadherin-8, previously shown in mice to be restricted to the CNS and thymus during development, was detected by RT-PCR, immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization in 4 of 16 RCC cell lines as well as in paraffin sections of the corresponding human RCC biopsies. In normal renal tissue, however, cadherin-8 could be detected only during the early stages of kidney development. These results suggest that alterations of type II cadherin expression may play a role in RCC development. In particular, cadherin-8 may be involved in both kidney morphogenesis as well as tumorigenesis in some types of RCC. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Cadherins represent a family of calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules with an important regulatory function for maintenance of tissue architecture. Alterations of cadherin expression have been demonstrated in the development and progression of different epithelial tumors. In renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the majority of tumors express N-cadherin and cadherin-6. Screening a series of 16 RCC cell lines for the expression of different novel type II cadherins by RT-PCR revealed a complex pattern of cadherin expression: cadherins 6 and 14 were expressed in most of the RCC cell lines, whereas cadherins 11, 12 and 13 could not be detected at all. Interestingly, cadherin-8, previously shown in mice to be restricted to the CNS and thymus during development, was detected by RT-PCR, immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization in 4 of 16 RCC cell lines as well as in paraffin sections of the corresponding human RCC biopsies. In normal renal tissue, however, cadherin-8 could be detected only during the early stages of kidney development. These results suggest that alterations of type II cadherin expression may play a role in RCC development. In particular, cadherin-8 may be involved in both kidney morphogenesis as well as tumorigenesis in some types of RCC. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Background. At early stages of kidney development, the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is highly expressed on cells of the metanephrogenic mesenchyme. During maturation of the fetal kidney, NCAM gradually disappears. So far, it has been widely accepted that NCAM in the adult kidney is only expressed by nerves, and not by other cell types. Methods. NCAM expression was analysed in human adult healthy and diseased kidneys by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. NCAM+ renal interstitial cells were further characterized by double immunofluorescent staining using antibodies against neurofilaments, α smooth muscle actin, vimentin, α5B1;5β1 integrin, CD68, CD11c, HLA-DR and the potential progenitor cell markers CD34, CD117, CD133, CD24, nestin and cadherin-11. Results. In adult human kidneys, NCAM expression is restricted to rare interstitial cells with dendritic morphology, which are neurofilament-negative and predominantly localized on the corticomedullary junction. They are also negative for fibroblast cell markers, but co-express the haematopoietic stem cell markers CD34 and CD133. The number of NCAM+ interstitial cells increased in the initial phases of interstitial fibrosis. Western blot analysis of renal tissues with incipient interstitial fibrosis tissues showed the expression of the 140 kDa NCAM isoform. Conclusions. These data indicate that a rare subpopulation of NCAM+ interstitial cells could represent renal progenitors, and that NCAM+ interstitial cells can participate in the initial phase of interstitial fibrosis. © The Author [2007]. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of ERA-EDTA. All rights reserved.