Molecular characterization of desmosomes in meningiomas and arachnoidal tissue

Acta Neuropathol. 2003 Oct;106(4):337-47. doi: 10.1007/s00401-003-0736-8. Epub 2003 Jul 5.

Abstract

Intercellular junctions morphologically identical to epithelial desmosomes are known structures in meningiomas and arachnoidal tissue. Desmoplakin as one of the desmosomal plaque components has proven to be a reliable marker for diagnosis of meningeal tumors. Here we demonstrate by immunofluorescence microscopy, immunoblot and reverse transcription-PCR reactions that cells of arachnoidal tissue, of diverse meningioma subtypes and of a meningioma-derived cell line contain the full complement of the typical desmosomal proteins desmoplakin (DP), plakophilin 2 (PP2), desmocollin 2 (Dsc2) and desmoglein 2 (Dsg2). Consequently, all these molecules are suitable for diagnostic applications of meningioma tumors. In addition to these constitutive desmosomal components, representative for single-layered (simple) epithelia, the dural border cells of the arachnoid and about 60% of the meningiomas tested were positive for desmocollin 3 (Dsc3), a protein in epithelia taken as an indicator for differentiation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachnoid / metabolism*
  • Arachnoid / ultrastructure
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Desmocollins
  • Desmoglein 2
  • Desmogleins
  • Desmoplakins
  • Desmosomes / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique / methods
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / classification
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Meningioma / classification
  • Meningioma / metabolism*
  • Meningioma / pathology
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Middle Aged
  • Plakophilins
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Swine

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • DSC2 protein, human
  • DSC3 protein, human
  • DSG2 protein, human
  • DSP protein, human
  • Desmocollins
  • Desmoglein 2
  • Desmogleins
  • Desmoplakins
  • Dsc2 protein, mouse
  • Dsg2 protein, mouse
  • Dsp protein, mouse
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • PKP2 protein, human
  • Pkp2 protein, mouse
  • Plakophilins
  • Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Dsc3 protein, mouse