The expressions and changes of TGF—α,β Genes in human colorectal cancerous, paracancerous and normal mucosal tissues

Abstract

Transforming growth factor α,β(TGF α,β) acted as positive and negative growth regulators respectively play an important role in the development and progression of colorectal carcinoma. In this study, the dot, Northern and Southern blot analysis were used to explore the expressions and changes of TGF-α,β genes of colorectal cancerous, paracancerous and normal mucosal tissues in 12 cases. The order of the expressions of TGF-a mRNA from high to low is cancerous, paracancerous and normal tissues in turn. In one case, the expression of TGF-α mRNA was much higher in paracancerous tissues, even than that in the cancerous tissues. The order of expressions of TGF-β mRNA from high to low was contrary to that of the TGF-α mRNA. That is from normal, paracancerous and cancerous tissues in turn. In two cases of patients, the expression of TGF-β mRNA were higher in paracancerous tissues than that in normal tissues. We also found that the amplification of TGF-α gene may be lead to the high expression of TGF-β mRNA were not known. These results indicate that the higher expression of TGF-α and the lower expression of TGF-β in cancerous tissues and the higher expressions of TGF-α, β in paracancerous tissues of some cases may be correlated with the development and progression of the colorectal carcinoma by autocrine or paracrine growth regulation.