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Human glioma tumors express high levels of the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 Volume 21, issue 1, March 2010

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Authors
Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS, Ca’Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milan, II Cattedra di Anatomia Patologica, Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia e Odontoiatria, University of Milan, A.O. San Paolo Milan, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Italy

The chemokine receptor CX3CR1 and its cognate ligand CX3CL1 (also known as fractalkine), are involved in central nervous system pathophysiology, in particular, in the cross-talk between neurons and microglia. It was therefore important to investigate the expression of CX3CR1 in gliomas, the most frequently occurring, malignant brain tumors. In a consecutive series of 70 patients with primary, central nervous glial tumors, CX3CR1 was highly expressed in tumor cells as assessed by RT-PCR mRNA and protein levels, and by immunohistochemistry, while the corresponding normal cells were negative. Receptor immuno-positivity did not correlate with histology, grade, chromosomal (1p,19q) deletion, or with methylation of the DNA repair gene promoter MGMT (O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase). Thus, CX3CR1 expression is a frequent event in gliomas, irrespective of tumor classification and clinical severity. The molecular basis underlying CX3CR1 up-regulation and its functional biological significance remain to be determined.