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PubMed1992

A mutant of human insulin-like growth factor II (IGF II) with the processing sites of proinsulin. Expression and binding studies of processed IGF II.

A mutant of human insulin-like growth factor II (IGF II) was constructed by site-directed mutagenesis: the nucleotides coding for Ser33 and Ser39 were changed to yield Arg and Lys, respectively, thus creating two pairs of basic residues, Arg-Arg and Lys-Arg, as flanking sequences of the remaining C domain. [Arg33, Lys39]IGF II was expressed in NIH-3T3 cells as a processed two-chain peptide with a deletion of amino acid residues 37-40 and crosslinked by three disulfide bonds. This des(37-40)[Arg33]IGF II showed 3.6-fold and 7.4-fold reduced affinities to the type 1 and type 2 IGF receptor overexpressing cells, respectively, whereas the thymidine incorporation potency was the same as that of wild-type IGF II. We speculate that the discrepancy between the reduced binding to the type 1 IGF receptor and the full thymidine incorporation potency is due to the 6.1-fold reduced affinity of the expressed mutant to the co-expressed IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3). The results suggest that des(37-40)[Arg33]IGF II assumes a conformation very similar to IGF II, and that the entire length of the C domain is not essential for biological activity.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1989

Serum insulin-like growth factor II in chronic liver disease.

Insulin-like growth factor II is secreted primarily by the liver and is reported to be transcribed in many primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) cell lines. We have studied diagnostic significance of serum IGF-II in chronic liver diseases using specific enzyme immunoassay. Serum IGF-II levels (mean +/- SE) were decreased in chronic hepatitis (538 +/- 51 ng/ml; N = 29), liver cirrhosis (427 +/- 45; 50) and PHC (260 +/- 41; 17) compared to controls (830 +/- 49; 57). Serum IGF-II was not different from controls in any of nonhepatic diseases such as diabetes (1032 +/- 97; 19) pancreatic cancer (1413 +/- 282; 8), chronic pancreatitis (999 +/- 126; 17), peptic ulcer (1186 +/- 43; 11), irritable bowel syndrome (1002 +/- 109; 12), gastrointestinal tract cancer (1250 +/- 216; 21) and chronic renal failure (733 +/- 135; 14). In liver diseases serum IGF-II showed a significant correlation with liver function test (negative with retention of indocyanine green and total bile acids; positive with albumin, thrombo-test, and cholinesterase). These results suggest that serum IGF-II reflects a reduced production of IGF-II in the liver and that it can be an index for the residual capacity of liver function.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Expression of insulin-like growth factor II mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) is a mitogenic polypeptide closely related to insulin. Its gene has complex regulation of transcription, resulting in multiple mRNA initiated by different promoters. To study its role in hepatocarcinogenesis, we examined the expression of IGF-II mRNA in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and correlated it with the pathological features of the tumours. Using northern blot analysis, transcription of the normal adult promoter was repressed in all but two of the 30 HCC. Instead, there was re-expression of two foetal transcripts (6 and 5 kb) in 12 tumours. In contrast, most (93.3%) of the non-tumorous livers showed expression of adult transcript only, and there were three livers demonstrating expression of foetal transcripts in addition to the adult one. There was a significant association of IGF-II expression with direct tumour invasion into the adjacent liver parenchyma but foetal expression did not influence other parameters directly related to tumour invasiveness, including venous permeation, formation of tumour microsatellites and positive resection margin. Besides, IGF-II expression was significantly more frequently seen in tumours from older patients. To conclude, repression of normal adult promoter and re-expression of foetal promoters of IGF-II are common events in HCC. The observation that foetal IGF-II expression was significantly more frequent in older patients suggests that spontaneous foetal expression of IGF-II late in life may promote the growth of tumours which have already arisen through other mechanisms, but foetal re-expression itself is not enough to contribute to tumour progression.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMed1997

Immunohistochemical analysis of insulin-like growth factor I, insulin-like growth factor I receptor and insulin-like growth factor II in endometriotic tissue and endometrium.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate unprecedentedly immunohistochemical localization of insulin-like growth factor I, insulin-like growth factor I receptor and insulin-like growth factor II in endometriotic tissue, and to compare staining intensity with that of endometrium obtained simultaneously. METHODS: Endometriotic and corresponding endometrial tissue samples were obtained during operative laparoscopy from eighteen infertile patients for the problem of infertility. Semiquantitative scoring was used for analysis of results. RESULTS: It was demonstrated that insulin-like growth factor I and insulin-like growth factor I receptor were present in both endometriotic and endometrial tissues. In contrast, there was little insulin-like growth factor II present in either ectopic or eutopic endometrial tissue. For insulin-like growth factor I and insulin-like growth factor I receptor, the immunostaining score was similar between ectopic and eutopic endometrial tissues. There was no significant difference in immunostaining score between glandular epithelium and stromal cells. CONCLUSIONS: insulin-like growth factor I and insulin-like growth factor I receptor could be demonstrated immunohistochemically in both endometriotic and endometrial tissues.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

In situ localization of muscle insulin-like growth factor-II mRNA in developing bovine fetuses.

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) modulates myogenesis in muscle cell cultures, in utero. IGF-II gene expression is developmentally regulated in several tissues including muscle. Determining whether IGF-II is expressed by developing muscle cells or by neighbouring cells in developing muscle tissue is crucial for determining whether IGF-II exerts a paracrine or an autocrine affect on myogenesis. Semitendinosus muscle samples from 12 bovine fetuses ranging from 60 to 274 days post conception (pc) were analysed for the amount and localization of muscle IGF-II mRNA using Northern, dot blot and in situ hybridization analyses. Northern blot analysis revealed multiple IGF-II transcripts of 5.1, 3.7, 2.6, 2.0, 1.7 and 1.1 kb in developing bovine muscle tissue. The relative amount of muscle IGF-II mRNA increased (P < 0.05) until 162 days pc, then decreased (P < 0.01) to near undetectable levels by the end of gestation (approximately 284 days pc). Between 60 and 162 days pc, in situ hybridization revealed that the majority of the IGF-II transcripts were localized to developing muscle cells rather than connective tissue. After 162 days pc the IGF-II hybridization signal shifted away from muscle cells and greater accumulation was observed in the connective tissue at 274 days pc. These data confirm that the expression of IGF-II in developing bovine muscle tissue is primarily localized in muscle cells and support the claim that IGF-II acts as an autocrine-acting growth factor during myogenesis in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

A new leader exon identified in the rat insulin-like growth factor II gene.

In the rat insulin-like growth factor II gene, we identified an alternative 5'-untranslated sequence, in addition to the two sequences documented recently (1986) J. Mol. Biol. 192. 737-752, (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261. 17138-17149. This sequence was encoded in an extreme 5' separate exon (E1 exon), the promoter region of which could be distinguished from others by features including lack of the TATA-box and GC-repeat, and heterogeneity in the transcriptional initiation.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Human pre-mRNA cleavage factor II(m) contains homologs of yeast proteins and bridges two other cleavage factors.

Six different protein factors are required in vitro for 3' end formation of mammalian pre-mRNAs by endonucleolytic cleavage and polyadenylation. Five of the factors have been purified and most of their components cloned, but cleavage factor II(m) (CF II(m)) remained uncharacterized. We have purified CF II(m) from HeLa cell nuclear extract by several chromatographic steps. During purification, CF II(m) activity separated into two components, one essential (CF IIA(m)) and one stimulatory (CF IIB(m)) for the cleavage reaction. CF IIA(m) fractions contain the human homologs of two yeast 3' end processing factors, Pcf11p and Clp1p, as well as cleavage factor I(m) (CF I(m)) and several splicing and transcription factors. We report the cloning of hClp1 and show that it is a genuine subunit of CF IIA(m). Antibodies directed against hClp1 deplete cleavage activity, but not polyadenylation activity from HeLa cell nuclear extract. hClp1 interacts with CF I(m) and the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor CPSF, suggesting that it bridges these two 3' end processing factors within the cleavage complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1988

Reactivation of rat insulin-like growth factor II gene during hepatocarcinogenesis.

The insulin-like growth factor II (rIGFII) is a mitogenic polypeptide, the expression of which is high in most rat tissues during embryonic development, yet is barely detectable in adult tissues except for some of neurogenic origin. The gene is present as a single copy in the genome but has three alternative leader exons, E1, E2 and E3, thereby with three independent transcriptional promoters. We analysed the expression of rIGFII and the relative efficiency of each promoter in hepatocarcinogen-treated livers, primary hepatomas and established hepatoma lines. The E3-specific product was first detected after 6 weeks of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene treatment and those of E1 and E2 also after 9 weeks. The levels gradually increased according to the sum of the treatment period, but reactivation was nil in the regenerating liver. Consistently high levels of expression were observed in all primary tumors, but the relative promoter activity varied with the tumor. The significance of rIGFII reactivation was discussed in the light of the hepatocarcinogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Activation of latent transforming growth factor-beta1 is induced by mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor-II receptor.

This study was conducted to further explore the mechanism of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) activation, which plays a critical role in many physiological and pathological conditions. We have previously shown that the large (270 kDa), but not small (40 kDa), mannose 6-phosphate receptors facilitate the cellular response to latent TGF-beta1 released from genetically modified cells. In this study, we explored the role of cell membrane associated transglutaminase and plasmin in mannose 6-phosphate receptor induced latent TGF-beta activation using MS and MS-9 cells bearing either no receptors or the 270 kDa mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptors, respectively. As a source of latent TGF-beta1, PA317 cells were transfected with either pLin-TGF-beta1 vector or pLin retroviral vector with no TGF-beta1 insert using calcium phosphate precipitation. The latency and bioactivity of TGF-beta1 in conditioned medium derived from transfected PA317 cells were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and mink lung epithelial cell growth inhibition assay, respectively. The level of latent TGF-beta1 was 13-fold higher (20.1 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.03 ng/ml) in conditioned medium from pLin-TGF-beta1 transfected cells than that of control. The latency and bioactivity of TGF-beta1 released from pLin-TGF-beta1 transfected cells were confirmed by evaluation of 3H-thymidine incorporation in Mv1Lu epithelial cells treated with non- and heat-activated 10% conditioned medium. The results showed a significantly lower 3H-thymidine incorporation in Mv1Lu epithelial cells treated with heat-activated PA317 conditioned medium (4% of control) relative to those treated with either control or nonheated conditioned medium. This inhibition was abrogated by addition of 40 microg/ml of TGF-beta1 neutralizing antibody. The level of 3H-thymidine incorporation was then evaluated in MS-9 cells receiving Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium containing either 0% 10%, 30% or 50% volumes of nonactivated PA317 conditioned medium for 24 hours. The results showed a markedly lower proliferation in response to 30% and 50% conditioned medium used in MS-9 cells. Under similar experimental conditions, addition of only mannose 6-phosphate, but not fructose 6-phosphate or mannose 1-phosphate, at 1 mM concentration restored the MS-9 cell proliferative response to latent TGF-beta1. The inhibitory effects of latent TGF-beta1 on MS-9 cell proliferation were restored by addition of either TGF-beta1 neutralizing antibody or cystamine, a transglutaminase inhibitor. In contrast, addition of aprotinin, a plasmin inhibitor, had a marginal influence on inhibitory effects of latent TGF-beta1 on MS-9 cell proliferation. Interestingly, a mixture of latent TGF-beta1 + MS-9 cell membranes, but not MS cell membranes, also inhibited the mink lung epithelial cell proliferation (34% of control). These findings indicate that mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptors are involved in latent TGF-beta activation and that is at least partly dependent on cell membrane associated transglutaminase, but not on plasmin.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Promoter-dependent tissue-specific expressive nature of imprinting gene, insulin-like growth factor II, in human tissues.

The insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2) is a polypeptide with structure homology to insulin which possesses mitogen activity, and imprinted with paternal allele. In order to elucidate the distribution of imprinting pattern and relationship between allele- and tissue-specific expression of IGF2 in growth and maturation of human tissues, we investigated allele-specific expression of IGF2 in a wide spectrum of normal maturated human tissues by a PCR-based assay and found monoallelic expression in all eight-type tissues tested except human adult liver. Moreover, when a RT-PCR based sensitive allele-specific primer extension for an Apa I polymorphism within exon 9 of IGF2 was used, the analysis revealed the gene was normally imprinted in placenta; in contrast to the finding with placenta, IGF2 transcripts were biallelically expressed in human adult liver. Our results have clearly demonstrated preferential paternal expression and tissue-specific imprinting pattern of IGF2 in all human tissues tested in this study. Collectively, since IGF2 expression in developing fetal and adult liver is specified by distinct promoters, these extensive observations definitively indicate that transcriptional imprinting of IGF2 is more likely a promoter dependent manner.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Alterations in promoter usage and expression levels of insulin-like growth factor-II and H19 genes in cervical carcinoma exhibiting biallelic expression of IGF-II.

Biallelic expression of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF2) has been reported to be associated with progression of several tumors. Here, we report that the promoter usage and expression levels of IGF2 and H19 were altered in cervical carcinoma showing loss of imprinting. The imprinting status was examined in 32 cervical carcinomas and their matched normal tissues. Loss of imprinting (LOI) of IGF2 was observed in seven of 18 (39%) informative cases. LOI of H19 gene was detected in five of 14 informative cases. The usage of promoter P1 was observed in LOI tumors of IGF2, but not in the tumors showing maintenance of IGF2 imprinting (MOI) and in the normal cervical tissues. Unlike MOI tumors, some LOI tumors revealed the lack of IGF2 transcription from promoter P3. LOI tumors of IGF2 showed an increased expression level of IGF2 but a down-regulation of H19 relative to the normal tissues whereas MOI tumors did not reveal significant alterations. These results suggest that promoter P1 could be involved in the biallelic expression of IGF2 and that the altered expression levels of IGF2 and H19 gene might be associated with the progression of cervical carcinoma showing biallelic expression of IGF2.

Alleles↗

PubMed1993

Transcriptional activation of the insulin-like growth factor-II gene during myoblast differentiation.

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) is a secreted 67-amino acid peptide that functions principally as a prenatal growth regulator in mammals. To date, the mechanisms involved in the stimulation of IGF-II expression in the embryo and its attenuation after birth are unknown. Recent studies have shown that IGF-II mRNA and protein are induced during the terminal stages of muscle development in vitro, and that IGF-II may act as an autocrine differentiation agent for skeletal myoblasts. We now have investigated the regulation of IGF-II gene expression in muscle cells. Steady state levels of IGF-II mRNA increased by more than 30-fold during terminal differentiation of the C2 mouse myoblast cell line. Transcription run-on experiments using isolated muscle cell nuclei and direct analysis of nuclear RNA each demonstrated a greater than 10-fold rise in nascent IGF-II mRNA during cellular differentiation, and ribonuclease protection experiments showed that more than 95% of IGF-II mRNAs initiated in noncoding exon 3, implying that transcriptional activation occurs principally through promoter 3, the most 3' of the three mouse IGF-II gene promoters. Analysis of chromatin structure around the IGF-II gene in C2 cells revealed four major and four minor DNase-I-hypersensitive sites, but did not provide insight into the mechanisms of gene activation, since all sites were present in proliferating and differentiating cells. Gene transfer experiments showed that promoter 3 was at least 50-fold more active than promoter 1 or 2 in C2 cells, but the functional assessment of nearly 26 kilobases of additional DNA within the IGF-II locus by an "enhancer trap" approach did not delineate any chromosomal regions capable of mediating differentiation-specific gene activation. Our results demonstrate that muscle cells encode mechanisms for activating IGF-II gene transcription and suggest that these cells may be excellent models for identifying the developmentally regulated factors that control IGF-II gene expression.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Diminished G1 checkpoint after gamma-irradiation and altered cell cycle regulation by insulin-like growth factor II overexpression.

High levels of insulin-like growth factor II (IGFII) mRNA expression are detected in many human tumors of different origins including rhabdomyosarcoma, a tumor of skeletal muscle origin. To investigate the role of IGFII in tumorigenesis, we have compared the mouse myoblast cell line C2C12-2.7, which was stably transfected with human IGFII cDNA and expressed high and constant amounts of IGFII, to a control cell line C2C12-1.1. A rhabdomyosarcoma cell line, RH30, which expresses high levels of IGFII and contains mutated p53, was also used in these studies. IGFII overexpression in mouse myoblast C2C12 cells causes a reduced cycling time and higher growth rate. After gamma-irradiation treatment, C2C12-1.1 cells were arrested mainly in G0/G1 phase. However, C2C12-2.7 and RH30 cells went through a very short G1 phase and then were arrested in an extended G2/M phase. To verify further the effect of IGFII on the cell cycle, we developed a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line with tetracycline-controlled IGFII expression. We found that CHO cells with high expression of IGFII have a shortened cycling time and a diminished G1 checkpoint after treatment with methylmethane sulfonate (MMS), a DNA base-damaging agent, when compared with CHO cells with very low IGFII expression. It was also found that IGFII overexpression in C2C12 cells was associated with increases in cyclin D1, p21, and p53 protein levels, as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. These studies suggest that IGFII overexpression shortens cell cycling time and diminishes the G1 checkpoint after DNA damage despite an intact p53/p21 induction. In addition, IGFII overexpression is also associated with multiple changes in the levels and activities of cell cycle regulatory components following gamma-irradiation. Taken together, these changes may contribute to the high growth rate and genetic alterations that occur during tumorigenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Immunohistochemical evidence of insulin-like growth factor II in human small hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis C virus infection: relationship to fatty change in carcinoma cells.

It has recently been reported that insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) may play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We studied the relationship between the expression of IGF-II and fatty change in human small HCC using immunohistochemical staining techniques. Liver biopsy specimens were obtained from 35 patients with HCC (consisting of 15 patients with fatty change and 20 patients without fatty change). All patients had serum markers for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and histological findings obtained from non-tumourous lesions showed liver cirrhosis or chronic active hepatitis. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using a monoclonal antibody against rat IGF-II. A positive immunoreaction was found in 69% (24/35) of HCC. Insulin-like growth factor II was immunodetected in 80% (12/15) of HCC with fatty change but only in 60% (12/20) of those without fatty change. In most cases, IGF-II was not found in hepatocytes from non-tumourous lesions. We believe this to be the first time that IGF-II has been detected immunohistochemically in small HCC derived from HCV infection. This growth factor was more frequently immunodetected in HCC with fatty change than without. As insulin is an essential factor for the metabolism of fatty acids, IGF-II may play an important role in both fatty degeneration and in the proliferation of HCC cells. Furthermore, immunohistochemical IGF-II staining may contribute to the diagnosis of HCC, particularly in early stages accompanied by fatty change.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

PubMed2004

Rare Bleeding Disorder Registry: deficiencies of factors II, V, VII, X, XIII, fibrinogen and dysfibrinogenemias.

A North American registry for rare bleeding disorders [factor (F)II, factor (F)VII, factor (F)X, factor (F)V, factor (F)XIII, fibrinogen deficiencies and dysfibrinogenemias] was established to gather information about disease prevalence, genotyping frequency, diagnostic events, clinical manifestations, treatment and prophylaxis strategies, as well as disease- and treatment-related complications. Questionnaires were sent to 225 hemophilia treatment centers in the USA and Canada. Among 26% of responding centers, 294 individuals [4.4% of the registered children (200/4583) and 2.4% of adults (94/3809)] were diagnosed with one or more of the rare bleeding disorders (RBDs) included in this survey. The ethnic distribution for each disorder paralleled that of the general US population with the exception of the disproportionately large number of Latinos with FII deficiency. Only 5.4% of affected individuals were genotyped. An abnormal preoperative bleeding screen most often led to diagnosis. The most common coagulopathy was FVII deficiency; however, 40% of homozygous patients were asymptomatic. FX and FXIII deficiencies caused the most severe bleeding manifestations. Among all RBDs, the most common sites of bleeding were skin and mucus membranes. Multiple products were used to treat hemorrhage; however, half of the bleeding episodes required no therapy. The majority of patients suffered no long-term complications from hemorrhage. Treatment-related complications included viral seroconversion, anemia, allergic reactions and venous access device-related events. This registry provides the most comprehensive information to date about North American individuals with RBDs and could serve as an important resource for both basic scientist and clinician.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Insulin receptor isoform A, a newly recognized, high-affinity insulin-like growth factor II receptor in fetal and cancer cells.

Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) is a peptide growth factor that is homologous to both insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin and plays an important role in embryonic development and carcinogenesis. IGF-II is believed to mediate its cellular signaling via the transmembrane tyrosine kinase type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-I-R), which is also the receptor for IGF-I. Earlier studies with both cultured cells and transgenic mice, however, have suggested that in the embryo the insulin receptor (IR) may also be a receptor for IGF-II. In most cells and tissues, IR binds IGF-II with relatively low affinity. The IR is expressed in two isoforms (IR-A and IR-B) differing by 12 amino acids due to the alternative splicing of exon 11. In the present study we found that IR-A but not IR-B bound IGF-II with an affinity close to that of insulin. Moreover, IGF-II bound to IR-A with an affinity equal to that of IGF-II binding to the IGF-I-R. Activation of IR-A by insulin led primarily to metabolic effects, whereas activation of IR-A by IGF-II led primarily to mitogenic effects. These differences in the biological effects of IR-A when activated by either IGF-II or insulin were associated with differential recruitment and activation of intracellular substrates. IR-A was preferentially expressed in fetal cells such as fetal fibroblasts, muscle, liver and kidney and had a relatively increased proportion of isoform A. IR-A expression was also increased in several tumors including those of the breast and colon. These data indicate, therefore, that there are two receptors for IGF-II, both IGF-I-R and IR-A. Further, they suggest that interaction of IGF-II with IR-A may play a role both in fetal growth and cancer biology.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1988

Expression of the insulin-like growth factor II gene in the choroid plexus and the leptomeninges of the adult rat central nervous system.

The rat insulin-like growth factor II gene, encoding a fetal somatomedin, expresses a multitranscript family in embryonic/fetal tissues and in the adult brain and spinal cord. By performing in situ hybridization on tissue sections of adult brain and spinal cord, we have found that these transcripts are not expressed in neural or glial cells but are expressed in the epithelium of the choroid plexus of each cerebral ventricle and in the leptomeninges. We propose that the choroidal epithelial cells synthesize and secrete insulin-like growth factor II into the cerebrospinal fluid.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Mono- and bi-allelic expression of insulin-like growth factor II gene in human muscle tumors.

Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) is a mitogen for many cell types and an important modulator of muscle growth and differentiation. IGF-II gene is prevalently expressed during prenatal development and its gene activity is regulated by genomic imprinting, in that the allele inherited from the father is active and the allele inherited from the mother is inactive in most normal tissues. IGF-II expression is activated in several types of human neoplasms and an alteration of IGF-II imprinting has been described in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and Wilms' tumor. Here we show that monoallelic expression of IGF-II gene is conserved in normal adult muscle tissue whereas two or more copies of active IGF-II alleles, arising by either relaxation of imprinting or duplication of the active allele, are found in 9 out of 11 (82%) rhabdomyosarcomas retaining heterozygosity at 11p15, regardless of the histological subtype. Since IGF-II has been indicated as an autocrine growth factor for rhabdomyosarcoma cells, these findings strongly suggest that acquisition of a double dosage of active IGF-II gene is an important step for the initiation or progression of rhabdomyosarcoma tumorigenesis. Among different types of muscle tumors, relaxation of imprinting seems to arise prevalently in rhabdomyosarcomas, since we have detected only one case of partial reactivation of the maternal IGF-II allele out of 7 leiomyosarcomas tested.

Adult↗