Turkish Neurosurgery 2015 , Vol 25 , Num 4
Expression of Stem Cell Marker Nestin and MicroRNA-21 in Meningiomas
Vasiliki GALANI1, George A ALEXIOU2, Georgios MILIARAS2, Efthymios DIMITRIADIS3, Elena TRIANTAFYLLOU1, Aggeliki GALANI4, Anna GOUSSIA5, Panagiotis KANAVAROS1, Theoni TRANGAS6
1University of Ioannina, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Epirus, Greece
2University Hospital of Ioannina, Department of Neurosurgery, Epirus, Greece
3 “St. Savvas” Anticancer Hospital, Department of Genetics, Athens, Greece
4University of Patras, Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, Patra, Greece
5University of Ioannina, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Epirus, Greece
6University of Ioannina, Department of Biological Applications and Technologies, Epirus, Greece
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.10800-14.2 Aim: Meningiomas are one of the most common benign intracranial tumors, making up nearly one third of all primary intracranial tumors. The majority of meningiomas have benign histological features and total resection is associated with favourable prognosis. Atypical and malignant meningiomas are associated with increased risk of recurrence. In the present study we set out to investigate the role of nestin mRNA levels and miR-21 in meningiomas.

Material and Methods: We studied 17 patients with meningiomas that were treated surgically in our institute. Clinical variables that were analyzed were age, sex and histology. The expression of stem cell marker nestin mRNA levels and miR-21 was investigated in tissue samples by qRT-PCR.

Results: Considerable levels of both miR-21 and nestin mRNA were found. Atypical and anaplastic meningiomas had higher expression of both miR-21 and nestin compared to benign tumors. Furthermore, a trend towards a positive correlation between miR-21 and nestin mRNA levels was also found.

Conclusion: Increased miR-21 and nestin mRNA levels were found in anaplastic meningiomas, in which recurrence is common, and the role of miR-21 and Nestin in meningiomas therefore warrants further investigation. Keywords : miR-21, Nestin, Meningioma, Recurrence

Corresponding author : Alexiou George, alexiougr@gmail.com