Gene expression of apolipoprotein E in human brain tumors.

Samples of normal brain, two meningiomas, one medulloblastoma and seven astrocytomas were analyzed along with two glioma lines to determine the genic expression of apolipoprotein E, which in addition to its major function in lipid metabolism has been postulated to be a marker for astrocytomas. Messenger ribonucleic acid encoding apolipoprotein E was found to be expressed in significant amounts in all of the brain tumor specimens and in the normal brain, but in only one of the two glioma lines. Although the role of apolipoprotein-E in the brain and in brain tumor growth remains undefined, it is clear that this gene is expressed in substantial amounts in a variety of brain tumors and is not specific for astrocytomas.