Molecular characterisation of the peripheral Benzodiazepine receptor in various human cancer tissues
Date
2008-03-07T08:41:53Z
Authors
Bhoola, Nimisha Harshadrai
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background: The Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor (PBR) can be classified as a distinct
receptor from the central benzodiazepine receptor. The PBR gene has been located to
chromosome 22q13.31 in humans and has been found to consist of four exons, with the first
and half of the fourth exon being untranslated to form the PBR protein. PBR is involved in
numerous biological conditions including the regulation of cellular proliferation and
apoptosis, steroidogenesis, heme biosynthesis, anion and porphyrin transport and
mitochondrial functions such as oxidative phosphorylation and translocation of cholesterol
from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane. Recent studies showed that the
expression of PBR correlated with tumour malignancy and patient survival.
Aim: The objectives of this research were to determine the expression pattern and level of
PBR mRNA in various types of human normal and cancer tissues and to isolate the PBR
protein.
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Keywords
Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor, cancer