Aberrant glycosylation based on the neo-expression of poly-N-acetyllactosamine structures in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.
An immuno- and lectin-histochemical study was performed to investigate the aberrant expression of blood group-related antigens and poly-N-acetyllactosamine structures in squamous cell carcinomas of the maxillary sinus, the larynx, the apipharynx, the hypopharynx, the oral cavity, the parotid gland and the tonsil from 52 patients using monoclonal antibodies against A, B and H antigens, and six lectins, UEA-I, PNA, VVA-B4, PWM, LEA and DSA. In addition, GSA-II staining following endo-beta-galactosidase digestion procedure was also applied. A, B and H antigens were expressed in most normal epithelial cells of head and neck organs, and depended on the patient blood type. However, in squamous cell carcinoma, A antigen was not detected in eight out of 25 individuals of blood groups A and AB, although B antigen was consistently expressed in carcinoma cells from all the B and AB individuals. On the other hand, H antigen was expressed in carcinoma cells not only from all blood group O individuals, but from 32 out of 35 individuals of blood groups A, B and AB. T and Tn antigens, which are recognized by PNA and VVA-B4, were strongly expressed in carcinoma cells from 40 and 42 out of 52 individuals respectively. Reactivity with GSA-II staining following endo-beta-galactosidase digestion, which recognizes linear poly-N-acetyllactosamine structures, was found in a few malignant cells from 21 individuals. Staining with anti-A, -B and -H monoclonal antibodies and UEA-I lectin was diminished after endo-beta-galactosidase digestion in some cases. Lectins specific for poly-N-acetyllactosamine, such as PWM, LEA and DSA, exhibited reactivity in some malignant cells from 30, 22 and 32 out of 52 individuals respectively. These results suggested that the expression of the blood group-related antigens is suppressed and immature carbohydrate chains, that is H, T and Tn antigens, are accumulated in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. The results further suggested that poly-N-acetyllactosamine structures are simultaneously synthesized along with the deletion of A antigen and the accumulation of precursors.
Yokota
M
M
Department of Otolaryngology, Nara Medical University, Japan.
Ito
N
N
Hatake
K
K
Yane
K
K
Miyahara
H
H
Matsunaga
T
T
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006031:Glycosylation; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D011134:Polysaccharides; C040286:Tn antigen; C037199:poly-N-acetyllactosamine