Expression of TGF-beta isoforms, TGF-beta receptors, and SMAD molecules at different stages of human glioma
Human gliomas express TGF-beta but, so far the expression of downstream mediators has been investigated in only a few cell lines. We have examined tissue specimens of 23 gliomas: 3 astrocytomas grade II (AST), 8 anaplastic astrocytomas grade III (AAST), and 12 glioblastoma multiforme grade IV (GBM). We analyzed the mRNA expression of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, the TGF-beta receptors type I (