J Korean Med Sci.  2002 Oct;17(5):636-640. 10.3346/jkms.2002.17.5.636.

Potential Role of Homer-2a on Cutaneous Vascular Anomaly

• Kim JT
• Park SH
• Kim SK
• Kwon EY
• Do MH
• Hwang TH

• KMID: 1127255
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2002.17.5.636

Abstract

Homer protein was identified based on its rapid induction in rat hippocampal granule cell neurons following excitatory synaptic activity. Although the presence of the Homer gene in the peripheral tissues has been observed in previous reports, the physiological function of the Homer protein in these tissues has not been noted. In this experiment, a Homer-2a cDNA fragment was successfully amplified by RTPCR in the involuting phase of human hemangioma but not in the human vascular malformation and normal vessel. After isolation of full Homer cDNA in a mouse liver cDNA library, E1-deleted recombinant adenovirus expressing the Homer protein (Adv.CMV.mHomer-2a) was constructed to determine its physiological function in peripheral tissues. Adv.CMV.mHomer2a, but not Adv.CMV.LacZ (recombinant adenovirus expressing beta-galactosidase), strongly inhibited the growth rate of HUVECs (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) probably via inducing apoptosis determined by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining methods. This study suggests that the Homer gene is present in human specimens in the involuting phase of hemangioma, and it might be involved in the growth control.

Keyword

Homer-2a; Vascular Anomaly; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Animals
Apoptosis
Base Sequence
Blood Vessels/*abnormalities
Carrier Proteins/genetics/*physiology
Cells, Cultured
Child
Child, Preschool
DNA, Complementary/genetics
Endothelium, Vascular/cytology
Female
Hemangioma/blood supply/*genetics
Humans
Male
Mice
Middle Aged
Neuropeptides/genetics/*physiology
Rats
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Skin/blood supply
Skin Neoplasms/blood supply/*genetics