Biomaterial Database

Expression of cathepsin D in human astrocytic neoplasias. 1995

M Warich, and P von Bossanyi, and K Dietzmann

Department of Neuropathology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany.

The authors investigate the expression of enzyme cathepsin D in human astrocytic neoplasias revealing the dependency on the grade of anaplasia of the tumor. This investigation has shown that there is a significant difference of cathepsin D-expression between the group of low malignant astrocytomas (G1 and G2) and the group of highly malignant astrocytomas (G3 and glioblastoma). Enzyme expression decreases when the grade of anaplasia increases. Parallel experiments have shown that in the investigated tumors the expression of GFAP also decreases when the grade of anaplasia increases. These results are related to the role of cathepsin D in the protein metabolism of healthy human CNS. The authors assume that in low malignant tumors, owing to the persisting and well-developed cytoskeleton, the investigated enzyme cathepsin D expresses more strongly than in highly malignant tumors, which are characterized by a heavier loss of their capability to express regular structures so that cathepsin D finds less substrate and, correspondingly, expresses less strongly.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D001932	Brain Neoplasms	Neoplasms of the intracranial components of the central nervous system, including the cerebral hemispheres, basal ganglia, hypothalamus, thalamus, brain stem, and cerebellum. Brain neoplasms are subdivided into primary (originating from brain tissue) and secondary (i.e., metastatic) forms. Primary neoplasms are subdivided into benign and malignant forms. In general, brain tumors may also be classified by age of onset, histologic type, or presenting location in the brain.	Brain Cancer,Brain Metastases,Brain Tumors,Cancer of Brain,Malignant Primary Brain Tumors,Neoplasms, Intracranial,Benign Neoplasms, Brain,Brain Neoplasm, Primary,Brain Neoplasms, Benign,Brain Neoplasms, Malignant,Brain Neoplasms, Malignant, Primary,Brain Neoplasms, Primary Malignant,Brain Tumor, Primary,Brain Tumor, Recurrent,Cancer of the Brain,Intracranial Neoplasms,Malignant Neoplasms, Brain,Malignant Primary Brain Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Brain,Neoplasms, Brain, Benign,Neoplasms, Brain, Malignant,Neoplasms, Brain, Primary,Primary Brain Neoplasms,Primary Malignant Brain Neoplasms,Primary Malignant Brain Tumors,Benign Brain Neoplasm,Benign Brain Neoplasms,Benign Neoplasm, Brain,Brain Benign Neoplasm,Brain Benign Neoplasms,Brain Cancers,Brain Malignant Neoplasm,Brain Malignant Neoplasms,Brain Metastase,Brain Neoplasm,Brain Neoplasm, Benign,Brain Neoplasm, Malignant,Brain Neoplasms, Primary,Brain Tumor,Brain Tumors, Recurrent,Cancer, Brain,Intracranial Neoplasm,Malignant Brain Neoplasm,Malignant Brain Neoplasms,Malignant Neoplasm, Brain,Neoplasm, Brain,Neoplasm, Intracranial,Primary Brain Neoplasm,Primary Brain Tumor,Primary Brain Tumors,Recurrent Brain Tumor,Recurrent Brain Tumors,Tumor, Brain
D002402	Cathepsin D	An intracellular proteinase found in a variety of tissue. It has specificity similar to but narrower than that of pepsin A. The enzyme is involved in catabolism of cartilage and connective tissue. EC 3.4.23.5. (Formerly EC 3.4.4.23).
D005904	Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein	An intermediate filament protein found only in glial cells or cells of glial origin. MW 51,000.	Glial Intermediate Filament Protein,Astroprotein,GFA-Protein,Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein,GFA Protein
D005909	Glioblastoma	A malignant form of astrocytoma histologically characterized by pleomorphism of cells, nuclear atypia, microhemorrhage, and necrosis. They may arise in any region of the central nervous system, with a predilection for the cerebral hemispheres, basal ganglia, and commissural pathways. Clinical presentation most frequently occurs in the fifth or sixth decade of life with focal neurologic signs or seizures.	Astrocytoma, Grade IV,Giant Cell Glioblastoma,Glioblastoma Multiforme,Astrocytomas, Grade IV,Giant Cell Glioblastomas,Glioblastoma, Giant Cell,Glioblastomas,Glioblastomas, Giant Cell,Grade IV Astrocytoma,Grade IV Astrocytomas
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000708	Anaplasia	Loss of structural differentiation and useful function of neoplastic cells.	Anaplasias
D001253	Astrocytes	A class of large neuroglial (macroglial) cells in the central nervous system - the largest and most numerous neuroglial cells in the brain and spinal cord. Astrocytes (from "star" cells) are irregularly shaped with many long processes, including those with "end feet" which form the glial (limiting) membrane and directly and indirectly contribute to the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER. They regulate the extracellular ionic and chemical environment, and "reactive astrocytes" (along with MICROGLIA) respond to injury.	Astroglia,Astroglia Cells,Astroglial Cells,Astrocyte,Astroglia Cell,Astroglial Cell,Astroglias,Cell, Astroglia,Cell, Astroglial
D001254	Astrocytoma	Neoplasms of the brain and spinal cord derived from glial cells which vary from histologically benign forms to highly anaplastic and malignant tumors. Fibrillary astrocytomas are the most common type and may be classified in order of increasing malignancy (grades I through IV). In the first two decades of life, astrocytomas tend to originate in the cerebellar hemispheres; in adults, they most frequently arise in the cerebrum and frequently undergo malignant transformation. (From Devita et al., Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 5th ed, pp2013-7; Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 3d ed, p1082)	Astrocytoma, Subependymal Giant Cell,Glioma, Astrocytic,Oligoastrocytoma, Mixed,Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytomas,Anaplastic Astrocytoma,Astrocytoma, Grade I,Astrocytoma, Grade II,Astrocytoma, Grade III,Astrocytoma, Protoplasmic,Astroglioma,Cerebral Astrocytoma,Childhood Cerebral Astrocytoma,Fibrillary Astrocytoma,Gemistocytic Astrocytoma,Intracranial Astrocytoma,Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma,Pilocytic Astrocytoma,Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma,Anaplastic Astrocytomas,Astrocytic Glioma,Astrocytic Gliomas,Astrocytoma, Anaplastic,Astrocytoma, Cerebral,Astrocytoma, Childhood Cerebral,Astrocytoma, Fibrillary,Astrocytoma, Gemistocytic,Astrocytoma, Intracranial,Astrocytoma, Juvenile Pilocytic,Astrocytoma, Pilocytic,Astrocytomas,Astrocytomas, Grade III,Astrogliomas,Cerebral Astrocytoma, Childhood,Cerebral Astrocytomas,Childhood Cerebral Astrocytomas,Fibrillary Astrocytomas,Gemistocytic Astrocytomas,Gliomas, Astrocytic,Grade I Astrocytoma,Grade I Astrocytomas,Grade II Astrocytoma,Grade II Astrocytomas,Grade III Astrocytoma,Grade III Astrocytomas,Intracranial Astrocytomas,Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytomas,Mixed Oligoastrocytoma,Mixed Oligoastrocytomas,Pilocytic Astrocytoma, Juvenile,Pilocytic Astrocytomas,Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma,Protoplasmic Astrocytoma,Protoplasmic Astrocytomas,Xanthoastrocytoma, Pleomorphic