Merlin蛋白在听神经瘤组织中的表达与分布

目的明确听神经瘤中merlin蛋白的表达及其在细胞内的分布。方法收集临床诊断并且经过术后病理证实的听神经瘤组织石蜡包埋标本54例,用免疫组织化学方法分析merlin蛋白在肿瘤组织中的表达,取三叉神经痛和晚期梅尼埃病患者接受手术治疗术中切除的神经组织作为对照组。用Western blot方法测试肿瘤组织中merlin蛋白的电泳迁移行为。用图像分析方法计算每例患者的阳性表达率,将merlin蛋白表达阳性率与患者年龄、性别、肿瘤生长指数、肿瘤直径和临床分期进行比较。结果merlin蛋白在听神经瘤组织中有不同程度的表达,阳性率为0～87．5％,平均(46．66±5．75)％,与肿瘤生长指数之间无明显相关性,与患者年龄、性别、肿瘤直径和临床分期无明显相关性。merlin细胞内分布部位有一定差异,以细胞核内、核周分布为主,也有部分分布于细胞质中。Western blot显示在听神经瘤组织中merlin蛋白位于65 000和125 000。结论在听神经瘤组织中存在merlin蛋白的表达,其在细胞内分布部位有一定变异。听神经瘤组织中merlin蛋白可能同时与其他蛋白以复合物的形式存在。

Expression and localization of merlin in vestibular schwannoma

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the expression and subcellular localization of merlin in vestibular schwannoma. METHODS: Fifty four paraffin embedded vestibular schwannoma samples confirmed by pathology after resection were included in the study. The expression of merlin in vestibular schwannoma was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Nerve tissues that were resected during surgical treatment for trigeminal neuralgia and Meniere's disease were used as control. Western blotting was used to analyze the electrophoresis migration of merlin in the acoustic neuroma. Image analysis was used to calculate the positive expression percentage of merlin in each individual. The expression percentage of merlin in the tumor tissue was compared with age and gender of the patients, clinical course of the tumor, tumor growth index, tumor diameter and clinical stage. RESULTS: Merlin was expressed in 0 to 87.5% of the cells in vestibular schwannoma tissue with a mean of (46.66 +/- 5.75)%. There was a negative correlation between merlin expression percentage and tumor growth index. There were no correlations between merlin expression percentage and the age, gender, tumor diameter and clinical stage. There exists a difference for the location of merlin, mainly in the nucleus and perinucleus. There was also a cytoplastic location. Merlin in the tumor tissue was shown by western blot to be in 65000 and 125000 positions. CONCLUSIONS: Merlin was expressed in vestibular schwannoma tissue, with a different intra-cellular location. Merlin might also exist as a complex with other proteins in the tumor tissue.