Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Immunocytochemical demonstration of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein in cerebellar medulloblastoma

  • Regular Papers
  • Published:
Acta Neuropathologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Previously, immunoreactive rod-opsin and S-antigen (arrestin), two highly characteristic markers of retinal photoreceptors and pinealocytes, were shown to be present in certain medulloblastoma cells. It, thus, has been suggested that such cells differentiate along the photoreceptor lineage. This is corroborated in the present immunocytochemical investigation using antibodies against another photoreceptor-cell marker, the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). As shown in preparations of human retina and pineal organ, IRBP can be successfully demonstrated in formalinfixed and paraffin-embedded tissue: the IRBP immunoreaction is located to the outer and inner segments of retinal photoreceptor cells and to perikarya of certain pinealocytes. Examination of formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded biopsy specimens of 66 cerebellar medulloblastomas revealed varying numbers of IRBP-immunoreactive tumor cells in 19 cases that were formerly shown to contain rod-opsin and S-antigen immunoreaction. IRBP-immunoreactive tumor cells were also found in a retinoblastoma and a pineocytoma, but not in neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma, glioblastoma, oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma. The results indicate: (1) cerebellar medulloblastomas are heterogeneous in their differentiation potential; (2) one type of medulloblastoma displays photoreceptor characteristics; (3) this type appears to be closely related to retinoblastoma and pineal cell tumors; and (4) all three types of tumors may display additional common features to be explored in future studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Adler AJ, Evans CD (1983) Rapid isolation of bovine interphotoreceptor retinol-binding protein. Biochim Biophys Acta 761:217–222

    Google Scholar 

  2. Adler AJ, Martin KJ (1982) Retinol-binding protein in bovine interphotoreceptor matrix. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 108:1601–1608

    Google Scholar 

  3. Arendt J (1978) Melatonin as a tumour marker in a patient with pineal tumour. Br J Med 2:635–636

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bonnin JM, Perentes E (1988) Retinal S-antigen immunoreactivity in medulloblastoma. Acta Neuropathol 76:204–207

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bridges CDB, Launders RA, Fong SL, Liou GI (1986) Interstitial retinol-binding protein (IRBP) in rat and bovine pineal organs: evolutionary vestige or functional molecule. In: O'Brien P, Klein DC (eds) Pineal retinal relationships. Academic Press, Orlando, pp 383–400

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bunt-Milam AH, Saari JC (1983) Immunocytochemical localization of two retinoid binding proteins in vertebrate retina. J Cell Biol 97:703–712

    Google Scholar 

  7. Burger PC, Grahmann FC, Bliestle A, Kleihues P (1987) Differentiation in medulloblastoma. A histological and immunohistochemical study. Acta Neuropathol (Berl). 73:115–123

    Google Scholar 

  8. Chader GJ, Wiggert B, Gery I, Lee L, Redmond TM, Kuwabara T, Rodrigues MM (1986) Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein: a link between retinal rod photoreceptor cells and pineal gland. In: O'Brien P, Klein DC (eds) Pineal retinal relationships. Academic Press, Orlando, pp 363–382

    Google Scholar 

  9. Czerwionka M, Korf H-W, Hoffmann O, Busch H, Schachenmayr W (1989) Differentiation in medulloblastoma: correlation between the immunocytochemical demonstration of photoreceptor markers (S-antigen, rod-opsin) and the survival rate in 66 patients. Acta Neuropathol 78:629–636

    Google Scholar 

  10. de Grip WJ (1988) Chemical studies related to vision. Photochem Photobiol 48:799–810

    Google Scholar 

  11. Donoso LA, Felberg NT, Augsburger JJ, Shields JA (1985) Retinal S-antigen and retinoblastoma: a monoclonal antibody and flow cytometric study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 26:568–572

    Google Scholar 

  12. Fong SL, Liou GI, Launders RA, Alvarez RA, Gonzalez F, Glazebrook PA, Lam DMK, Bridges CDB (1984) Characterization, localization, and biosynthesis of an interstitial retinol-binding glycoprotein in the human eye. J Neurochem 42:1667–1676

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hollyfield JG, Fliesler SJ, Rayborn ME, Fong SL, Launders RA, Bridges CD (1985) Synthesis and secretion of interstitial retinol-binding protein by the human retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 26:58–67

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kalsow CM, Wacker WB (1973) Localization of a uveitogenic soluble retinal antigen in the normal guinea pig eye by an indirect fluorescent antibody technique. Int Arch Allergy 44:11–20

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kalsow CM, Wacker WB (1977) Pineal reactivity of antiretina sera. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 16:181–184

    Google Scholar 

  16. Korf H-W, Foster RG, Ekström P, Schalken JJ (1985) Opsinlike immunoreaction in the retinae and pineal organs of four mammalian species. Cell Tissue Res 242:645–648

    Google Scholar 

  17. Korf H-W, Møller M, Gery I, Zigler JS, Klein DC (1985) Immunocytochemical demonstration of retinal S-antigen in the pineal organ of four mammalian species. Cell Tissue Res 239:81–85

    Google Scholar 

  18. Korf H-W, Klein DC, Zigler JS, Gery I, Schachenmayr W (1986) S-antigen-like immunoreactivity in a human pineocytoma. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 69:165–167

    Google Scholar 

  19. Korf H-W, Czerwionka M, Reiner J, Schachenmayr W, Schalken JJ, de Grip WJ, Gery I (1987) Immunocytochemical evidence of molecular photoreceptor markers in cerebellar medulloblastomas. Cancer 60:1763–1766

    Google Scholar 

  20. Korf H-W, Bruce JA, Vistica B, Rollag M, Stein BM, Klein DC (1989) Immunoreactive S-antigen in cerebrospinal fluid: a marker of pineal parenchymal tumors? J Neurosurg 70:682–687

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kramm CM, Korf H-W, Czerwionka M, Schachenmayr W, de Grip WJ (1991) Photoreceptor differentiation in cerebellar medulloblastoma: evidence for a functional photopigment and authentic S-antigen (arrestin). Acta Neuropathol 81:296–302

    Google Scholar 

  22. Kyritsis AP, Wiechmann AF, Bok D, Chader GJ (1987) Hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase in Y 79 human retinoblastoma cells: effects of cell attachement. J Neurochem 48:1612–1616

    Google Scholar 

  23. Lai YL, Masudak K, Hayasaka S, Suzayama Y, Lin TC, Lug R, Wang SJ, Liu YP (1982) Study of subretinal intercellular space. Exp Eye Res 34:7–14

    Google Scholar 

  24. Lai YL, Wiggert B, Liu Y, Chader GJ (1982) Interphotoreceptor retinol-binding proteins: possible transport vehicles between compartments of the retina. Nature 298:848–849

    Google Scholar 

  25. Lee WH, Shew JY, Hong FD, Sery TW, Donoso LA, Young LJ, Bookstein R, Lee EYPH (1987) Retinoblastoma susceptibility gene encodes a nuclear phosphoprotein associated with DNA binding activity. Nature 329:642–645

    Google Scholar 

  26. Liou GI, Bridges CDB, Fong SL, Alvarez RA, Gonzalez F (1982) Vitamin-A transport between retina and pigment epithelium — an interstitial protein carrying endogenous retinol (interstitial retinol-binding protein). Vision Res 22:1457

    Google Scholar 

  27. Liou GI, Fong SL, Gorden J, van Tunien P, Ledbetter DH, Christie S, Rout D, Bhattacharya S, Cook RG, Li Y, Wang C, Bridges CDB (1987) Human interstitial retinol-binding protein (IRBP): cloning, partial sequence, and chromosomal localization. Somat Cell Mol Genet 13:315–323

    Google Scholar 

  28. Nathans J, Hogness DS (1984) Isolation and nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding human rhodopsin. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 84:4851–4855

    Google Scholar 

  29. Ngo JT, Klisak I, Sparkes RS, Mohandas T, Yamaki K, Shinohara T, Bateman JB (1990) Assignment of the S-antigen gene (SAG) to human chromosme 2q24–q37. Genomics 7:84–87

    Google Scholar 

  30. O'Brien P, Klein DC (1986) Pineal retinal relationships. Academic Press, Orlando, pp 1–442

    Google Scholar 

  31. Papermaster DS, Converse CA, Zorn M (1976) Biosynthetic and immunochemical characterization of a large protein in frog and cattle rod outer segment membranes. Exp Eye Res 23:105–125

    Google Scholar 

  32. Perentes E, Rubinstein LJ, Herman MM, Donoso LA (1986) S-antigen immunoreactivity in human pineal glands and pineal parenchymal tumors. A monoclonal antibody study. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 71:224–227

    Google Scholar 

  33. Pfeffer B, Wiggert B, Lee L, Zonnenberg B, Newsome D, Chader G (1983) The presence of a soluble interphotoreceptor retinol-binding protein (IRBP) in the retinal interphotoreceptor space. J Cell Physiol 117:333–341

    Google Scholar 

  34. Pierce ME, Baker D, Harrington J, Takahashi JS (1989) Cyclic AMP-dependent melatonin production in Y 79 human retinoblastoma cells. J Neurochem 53:307–310

    Google Scholar 

  35. Porello K, Bhat SJ, Bok D (1991) Detection of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) mRNA in human and cone dominant squirrel retinas by in situ hybridization. J Histochem Cytochem 39:171–176

    Google Scholar 

  36. Redmond TM, Wiggert B, Robey FA, Nguyen NY, Lewis MS, Lee L, Chader G (1986) Isolation and characterization of monkey interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein, a unique extracellular-matrix component of the retina. Biochemistry 24:787–793

    Google Scholar 

  37. Rodrigues MM, Hackett J, Gaskins R, Wiggert B, Lee L, Redmond TM, Chader GJ (1986) Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein in retinal rod cells and pineal gland. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 27:844–850

    Google Scholar 

  38. Rodrigues MM, Bardenstein DS, Donoso LA, Rajagopalan S, Brownstein S (1987) An immunohistopathologic study of trilateral retinoblastoma. Am J Ophthalmol 103:776–781

    Google Scholar 

  39. Saari JC, Teller DC, Crabb JW, Bredberg L (1985) Properties of an interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein from bovine retina. J Biol Chem 260:195–201

    Google Scholar 

  40. Sparkes RS, Klisak I, Kaufmann D, Mokandas T, Tobin AJ, McGinnis JF (1986) Assignment of the rhodopsin gene to human chromosome three, region 3q21–q24 by in situ hybridization studies. Curr Eye Res 5:797–798

    Google Scholar 

  41. Veen Tv, Katial A, Shinohara T, Banett DJ, Wiggert B, Chader GJ, Nickerson JM (1986) Retinal photoreceptor neurons and pinealocytes accumulate mRNA for interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). FEBS Lett 208:133–137

    Google Scholar 

  42. Wiggert B, Chader GJ (1985) Monkey interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP): isolation, characterization and synthesis. In: Bridges CD, Adler A (eds) The interphotoreceptor matrix in health and disease. Alan R. Liss, New York, pp 89–110

    Google Scholar 

  43. Wiggert B, Derr JE, Fitzpatrick M, Chader GJ (1979) Vitamin A receptors of the retina. Differential binding in light and dark. Biochim Biophys Acta 582:115–121

    Google Scholar 

  44. Wurtman RJ, Axelrod J (1964) Demonstration of hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase, melatonin, and serotonin in a metastatic parenchymatous pinealoma. Nature 204: 1323–1324

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zentrum der Morphologie, Abteilung für Neurobiologie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, W-6000, Frankfurt/Main 70, Federal Republic of Germany

    H. -W. Korf

  2. Institut für Neuropathologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität, W-6300, Gießen, Federal Republic of Germany

    B. Korl & W. Schachenmayr

  3. Laboratory of Retinal Cell and Molecular Biology, National Eye Institute, 20892, Bethesda, MD, USA

    G. J. Chader & B. Wiggert

Authors
  1. H. -W. Korf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. Korl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. W. Schachenmayr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. J. Chader
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. B. Wiggert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Korf, H.W., Korl, B., Schachenmayr, W. et al. Immunocytochemical demonstration of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein in cerebellar medulloblastoma. Acta Neuropathol 83, 482–487 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310024

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310024

Key words

Search

Navigation