Functional nerve growth factor receptor in von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis: An immunocytochemical and short‐term culture study

摘要

Immunocytochemistry reveals 75kDa low affinity type nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) on the cell membrane of human neurofibroma cells of von Recklinghausen diseasein vivoandin vitro. NGF‐immunoreactivity is detected in the primary and cultured tumor cells. Growth augmentation of cultured neurofibroma cells by exogenous NGF is also confirmed. Phosphotyrosine‐immunoreactivity is demonstrated by immunocytochemistry in thein vivoandin vitroneurofibroma cells suggesting possible phospho‐rylation of tyrosine residue in the NGFR or a cellular protein downstream of signal transduction through the ligand receptor system.These results indicate human neurofibroma cells possess functional NGFR and the growth is potentiated through the NGF‐NGFR system in the paracrine and/or autocrine