胎儿和少儿皮肤内EGF、c-fos和c-myc基因表达变化研究

Gene expression of epidermal growth factor, c-fos and c-myc in fetal and children skins

目的 探讨表皮生长因子 (EGF)及其受体(EGFR)、原癌基因c fos和c myc在不同胎龄的胎儿和少儿皮肤中的基因表达变化特征及其可能的生物学意义。方法 用病理学技术检测不同发育阶段皮肤的结构特征后 ,提取 18例不同胎龄(13～ 32周 )的胎儿皮肤和 6例少儿皮肤的总RNA ,用RT PCR方法检测这 4种基因在不同组织中的表达变化规律。结果 在早期妊娠胎儿的皮肤中 ,EGF、EGFR、c fos和c myc基因表达较弱 ,随着胎儿的生长和发育 ,皮肤内这 4种基因表达逐渐增强 ,在少儿皮肤中 ,EGF、EGFR、c fos和c myc基因表达进一步升高 ,基因表达量分别为晚期妊娠胎儿皮肤的 1 2、1 1、1 3和 1 6倍。结论 EGF与其受体结合后引起的信号通路可能对皮肤的发生、结构功能的维持以及伤后修复具有重要意义 ;EGF、EGFR、c fos和c myc基因在早期妊娠胎儿皮肤中低表达可能与创面无瘢痕修复密切相关。

Objective To investigate gene expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), its receptor (EGFR) and two protooncogenes (c-fos and c-myc), in fetal skin at different development stages and children skin and to delineate their potential biological significance. Methods Fetal skin biopsies of human embryo were obtained from spontaneous abortions at different gestational ages from 13 to 32 weeks and children skin specimens were collected from patients undergoing plastic surgery. After morphological characteristics of skin at different development stages were detected with histological methods, gene expressions of EGF, EGFR, c-fos and c-myc in skin at different development stages were examined with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-PCR). Results Gene expression of EGF, EGFR, c-fos or c-myc could all be detected in fetal and childern skins. In fetal skin, the gene expression of these 4 genes was weak. Gene expression of these genes in skin was progressively enhanced with increasing gestational age. In children skin, the mRNA contents of these 4 genes were significantly increased in comparison with those in fetal skin (P<0.05). Conclusion Endogenous EGF, EGFR, c-fos and c-myc may be involved in the development of the skin at embryonic stage and in the determination of cutaneous structure and function, and also in wound healing duning childhood. The differential expression levels of these 4 genes may provide a predominantly antiscarring or profibrotic signal upon wounding during the scarless or scar-forming periods of gestation.