Molecular characterization of desmosomes in meningiomas and arachnoidal tissue.

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.
Authors	Kemal Akat, Hans-Dieter Mennel, Paul Kremer, Nikolaus Gassler, Christopher K E Bleck, Jürgen Kartenbeck
Journal	Acta neuropathologica (Acta Neuropathol) Vol. 106 Issue 4 Pg. 337-47 (Oct 2003) ISSN: 0001-6322 [Print] Germany
PMID	12845453 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
Chemical References	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
Topics	Animals Arachnoid (metabolism, 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, metabolism, pathology) Meningioma (classification, metabolism, pathology) Mice Microscopy, Electron Middle Aged Plakophilins Proteins (metabolism) RNA, Messenger (biosynthesis) Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction Swine

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