The predicted amino acid sequence of this tumor-suppressing factor has a significant sequence homology to mouse mammary-derived growth inhibitor and thus was named mammary-derived growth inhibitor-related gene (MRG).
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an intermediate filament protein normally found in astrocytes, and the radial glial marker brain fatty acid-binding protein (B-FABP; also known as FABP7) are co-expressed in malignant glioma cell lines and tumors.
Fatty acid binding protein 7 (FABP7), an intracellular protein with the tissue-specific expression pattern, has been reported to be implicated in diverse types of human tumors.
Our data provide mechanistic insight as to why FABP7 is associated with a poor prognosis in MG and suggest that relative levels of DHA and AA in the tumor environment can make a profound impact on tumor growth properties.
We provide evidence that increased production of eicosanoids in FABP7-positive malignant glioma growing in an AA-rich environment contributes to tumor infiltration in the brain.
To investigate possible molecular mechanisms underlying this association, we compared the expression and subcellular localization of FABP7 in non-tumor brain tissues with different types of glioma, and examined the expression of FABP7 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in GBM tumors.