Biopolymers and cell. 2002; 18 (4): 324 - 329

The genes SOX-2 and HC gp-39 are overexpressed in astrocytic gliomas

O. M. Garifulin, K. O. Shostak, V. V. Dmitrenko, V. D. Rozumenko, O. V. Khomenko, Yu. A. Zozulya, G. Zehetner, V. M. Kavsan

The comparison of gene expression in normal and tumour cells is one of the alternative approaches to determine genes involved in cancerogenesis. The comparison of gene expression profiles for normal brain and glioblastoma multiforme by utilising SAGEmap and ODD public databases of Cancer Genome Anatomy Project (CGAP) revealed that the expressions of the HC gp-39 and SOX-2 genes had the greatest changes in the tumor cells. The expression of HC gp-39 gene is 82 times and SOX-2 — 109 times greater in glioblastoma multiforme. Northern-analysis confirmed the results of computation and showed enhanced expression of the HC gp-39 gene only in glioblastoma multiforme and elevated level of SOX-2 mRNA in astrocytic tumours of different malignancy grades. Very likely that overexpression of the HC gp-39 gene may be related to upregulation of this gene in the activated macrophages which are more abundant during the terminal stages of astrocytic gliomas or due to cartilage metaplasia in glioblastoma. Expression of the SOX-2 gene was observed prevalently only in gliomas. We assume that increased activity of the SOX-2 gene in astrocytic tumours has an essential biological significance in the gtioma formation and the HC gp-39 gene may be used as a molecular marker for the glioblastoma diagnostics.