Objective: To study the interaction of SV40 early region gene coding product, the large tumor antigen(Tag) with tumor suppressor p53 in human brain tumorigenesis.
Methods: Tag was detected by immunoprecipitation and Western blot in 43 cases of human brain tumors and 5 cases of normal human brain tissues. Tag-p53 specific complex was screened in 18 Tag positive cases.
Results: Tag was found in all of 5 ependymomas and 2 choroid plexus papillomas, as well as in pituitary adenomas (5/6), astrocytomas (7/10), meningiomas (4/6), glioblastomas multiforme (3/5) and medulloblastomas (2/5). None of the 5 normal brain tissues were positive for Tag, nor were 3 oligodendrogliomas and 1 pineocytoma. Tag-p53 complexes were found in all of 18 Tag positive cases.
Conclusion: SV40 Tag can form a specific complex with p53 in human brain tumors, the inactivation of p53 due to the formation of Tag-p53 complex may be one of the important mechanisms of human brain tumorigenesis.