ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expressions and significance of erythropoietin producing hepatocellular cell line receptor A2 (EphA2) in pediatric brain glioma.Methods Seventy-eight fresh pediatric glioma specimens with a defined histological grade were collected in the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from Jan.2009to Mar.2013,which included 36 of low grade glioma(Ⅰ-Ⅱ grade),42 of high grade glioma(Ⅲ-grade),another 33 cases with brain trauma line pressure to remove children brain tissues were collected as control group.The expressions of EphA2 mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),Western blot and immunohistochemistry.Results 1.RT-PCR and Western blot showed that EphA2 did not express in control brain tissue,but the expression levels of EphA2 mRNA were over-expressed in pediatric brain glioma,and the difference was statistically significant(F =36.271,P ＜ 0.05) ;the expression levels of EphA2 protein were significantly higher in high-grade pediatric glioma group than in low-grade pediatric glioma group,and the difference was statistically significant(F =42.839,P ＜ 0.05).2.Immunohistochemistry showed that EphA2 expression was negative in control group,the positive expression in low-grade glioma group was 88.57％,and the positive expression in high-grade glioma group was 100.00％.Moreover,the higher the grade glioma,distribution of EphA2 expression was stronger,and the difference was statistically significant(Z =4.962,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The mRNA and protein expression levels of EphA2 were significantly high in pediatric brain glioma which were associated with the grade of glioma.Therefore,EphA2 may participate in the development and progression of pediatric brain glioma.