Relative expression of XXXX @entity2215 ( @entity2215 ) transcripts in @entity816 .

@entity1 @entity2215 @entity816 @entity5
@entity1 @entity2215 ( @entity2215 ) expression has been reported as a marker for @entity5 systems. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relative expression of @entity2215 (relhTERT) and its transcripts A+B+ (contained in the full-length product), Adel and Bdel in @entity816 (grades I-IV, n=38). relhTERT was assessed by duplex reverse transcription-PCR and the expression profile of Adel, Bdel and A+B+ transcripts by nested real time-PCR. relhTERT and A+B+ presence correlated well with each other ( P<0.001) and with histological grading [grades I-II (low) vs III-IV (high), P(relhTERT)=0.002 and P(A+B+)<0.001]. A+B+ was detected in one out of seven @entity2215 -positive low-grade @entity5 , while it was present in 96.3%, and predominantly expressed in 59.3% of high-grade @entity5 . Bdel predominance was observed only in three cases, irrespective of grading, while Bdel levels equal or close to those of A+B+ were found in 30.4% of grade IV @entity5 . In situ hybridization with specific Bplus and Bdel probes revealed positive signals for both mRNAs in association with relhTERT and respective variant profiles. In addition, this method was useful in assessing @entity2215 expression in cases where sampling errors for RT-PCR were unavoidable. Our findings show that except for differences in relhTERT, low- and high-grade @entity816 exhibit distinct @entity2215 variant profiles, most of which seem to be in line with the role attributed to @entity2215 regarding its contribution to the acquisition of malignant potential during astrocyte carcinogenesis. Low-grade @entity5 mainly express Adel and Bdel. High-grade @entity5 , especially grade IV, always express A+B+, mostly but not always in predominance over Adel and Bdel. In this same group, profiles with Bdel predominance or relatively equal A+B+/Bdel expression are also observed, and Adel is often missing. Whether these differences characterize @entity5 with different biological behavior remains to be elucidated.
