guanosine-triphosphate and Neurofibroma

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disorder whose major feature is the occurrence of multiple neurofibromas, which are benign tumors of the nerve sheath. It affects an estimated one in 3000 to 4000 individuals. In addition to neurofibromas, there are many other clinical manifestations, including malignant tumors such as gliomas or malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, and nontumor effects such as skeletal dysplasia and learning disability. Diagnosis is established on the basis of clinical criteria. Molecular genetic testing is feasible, but the large size of the gene and wide range of pathogenic mutations have so far impeded the development of a clinical diagnostic test. Insights into pathogenesis have followed from identification of the NF1 gene and the development of animal models. The major function of the gene product appears to be regulation of the ras protein. Tumors are believed to arise by the loss of function of the NF1 protein, suggesting that NF1 behaves as a tumor suppressor gene. Heterozygous effects on some cell types are also likely, however. The role of ras in the pathogenesis of tumors in NF1 has suggested an approach to treatment using ras inhibitors, some of which are likely to begin in clinical trials in NF1 patients in the near future.

Topics: Animals; Brain Neoplasms; Cafe-au-Lait Spots; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Female; Genes, Dominant; Genes, Neurofibromatosis 1; Glioma; Guanosine Triphosphate; Humans; Hypertension; Learning Disabilities; Leukemia; Male; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Neurofibroma; Neurofibromatosis 1; Neurofibromin 1; Protein Structure, Tertiary; ras Proteins; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Scoliosis

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common genetic disorder characterized by multiple neurofibromas, peripheral nerve tumors containing mainly Schwann cells and fibroblasts. The NF1 gene encodes neurofibromin, a tumor suppressor postulated to function in part as a Ras GTPase-activating protein. The roles of different cell types and of elevated Ras-GTP in neurofibroma formation are unclear. To determine which neurofibroma cell type has altered Ras-GTP regulation, we developed an immunocytochemical assay for active, GTP-bound Ras. In NIH 3T3 cells, the assay detected overexpressed, constitutively activated K-, N-, and Ha-Ras and insulin-induced endogenous Ras-GTP. In dissociated neurofibroma cells from NF1 patients, Ras-GTP was elevated in Schwann cells but not fibroblasts. Twelve to 62% of tumor Schwann cells showed elevated Ras-GTP, unexpectedly revealing neurofibroma Schwann cell heterogeneity. Increased basal Ras-GTP did not correlate with increased cell proliferation. Normal human Schwann cells, however, did not demonstrate elevated basal Ras activity. Furthermore, compared with cells from wild type littermates, Ras-GTP was elevated in all mouse Nf1(-/-) Schwann cells but never in Nf1(-/-) mouse fibroblasts. Our results indicate that Ras activity is detectably increased in only some neurofibroma Schwann cells and suggest that neurofibromin is not an essential regulator of Ras activity in fibroblasts.

Topics: Animals; Cell Separation; Fibroblasts; Glutathione Transferase; Guanosine Triphosphate; Histocytochemistry; Mice; Mice, Mutant Strains; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neurofibroma; Neurofibromin 1; Peptide Fragments; Protein Binding; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; ras GTPase-Activating Proteins; ras Proteins; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Schwann Cells

Neurofibromin, the gene product of NF1, is a Ras GTPase Activating Protein. The absence of neurofibromin leads to increased levels of Ras-GTP, which contributes to the proliferation of NF1 neurogenic sarcoma cell lines. Whether this pathogenic mechanism is applicable to benign and malignant peripheral nerve tumours from NF1 and non NF1 patients is not known, due to lack of a tissue based assay. We have adapted a colorimetric enzymatic assay for determining levels of Ras bound guanine nucleotides in tissues. Ras-GTP levels were increased in NF1 neurogenic sarcomas (15 times) and benign NF1 neurofibromas (four times), compared to non NF1 schwannomas. Neurofibromin was not expressed in NF1 sarcomas, in support of its important negative Ras regulatory role in the pathogenesis of NF1 peripheral nerve tumors.

Topics: Base Sequence; Cell Line, Transformed; DNA Primers; Genes, Neurofibromatosis 1; Genes, ras; GTPase-Activating Proteins; Guanosine Diphosphate; Guanosine Triphosphate; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Molecular Sequence Data; Neurilemmoma; Neurofibroma; Neurofibromin 1; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Protein Biosynthesis; Proteins; ras GTPase-Activating Proteins; Sarcoma

Nuclear RNA polymerase activity was studied in homotransplanted rat glial tumors where the primary tumor was produced by transplacental injection of ethylnitrosourea. Alpha amanitin, cycloheximide, and rifampicin were tested as inhibitors of this activity. Alpha amanitin significantly inhibited RNA polymerase activity in all tumors. This indicated that the major nuclear RNA polymerase activity seen in vitro in the tumor nuclei was RNA polymerase II. This is similar to the activity seen in normal glial nuclei. Cycloheximide and rifampicin which have no effect on RNA polymerase activity in normal glial nuclei inhibited about 20% of the polymerase activity in three of the tumors. The size and multiplicity of the nucleoli in these tumor cells suggests that RNA polymerase I could account for the activity which is inhibited by cycloheximide.

Topics: Amanitins; Animals; Autoradiography; Brain Neoplasms; Cell Nucleolus; Cell Nucleus; Cycloheximide; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; DNA, Neoplasm; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Ethylnitrosourea; Fibrosarcoma; Glioma; Guanosine Triphosphate; Neoplasm Transplantation; Neoplasms, Experimental; Neurofibroma; Rats; Rifampin; Transplantation, Homologous