The insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor gene is normally biallelically expressed in human juvenile tissue and tumours

Abstract

We have examined Insulln-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) gene expression for evidence of Imprinting in 15 informative patients with embryonal tumours. Blallellic expression was observed In all but one sample of normal juvenlle kidney and liver, and In 9/10 associated Wllms' tumours, 3/3 hepatoblastomas and 2/2 adrenal tumours. A single patient with Beckwlth-Wledemann Syndrome (BWS) demonstrated monoallellc expression of the maternally derived IGF1R allele In normal kidney, associated Wllms' tumour and In peripheral blood lymphocytes. The observed blallellc expression of the IGF1R gene in all but one patient strongly suggests that the human gene Is not normally Imprinted. © 1993 Oxford University Press.