Cell-surface laminin-like molecules and alpha-D-galactopyranosyl end-groups of cloned strongly and weakly metastatic murine fibrosarcoma cells.
Indications from previous work that cancer cell-surface laminin-like molecules and alpha-D-galactopyranosyl end-groups may contribute to spontaneous metastasis were further investigated. Both moieties are known to mediate cell attachment to various foreign surfaces. Five strongly metastatic and 5 weakly metastatic cell clones from a murine fibrosarcoma were examined for the occurrence of both cell-surface moieties by immunofluorescence flow cytometry and microscopy. None of these clones was rich in laminin-like molecules, which were least strongly expressed by the highly metastatic clones. The alpha-D-galactopyranosyl end-groups were strongly expressed by all strongly metastatic clones and by 2 weakly metastatic clones, but were only weakly expressed by the other weakly metastatic clones. These results indicate that the laminin-like cell-surface molecules are not necessary for spontaneous metastasis formation. However, the alpha-D-galactopyranosyl end-groups may be necessary, but are not sufficient for the cancer cells to form metastases. These carbohydrates are known to occur on the laminin-like molecules. The present results show that they must also exist on other cell-surface molecules.
Grimstad
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IA
Institute of Pathology, University of Oslo, Rikshospitalet, Norway.
Bosnes
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D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000032:analysis*; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000032:analysis*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005697:Galactosides / Q000032:analysis*; D006027:Glycosides / Q000032:analysis*; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis*; D051379:Mice; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
D002241:Carbohydrates; D005697:Galactosides; D006027:Glycosides; D007797:Laminin