Ganglioside expression in lung cancer cell lines.
Gangliosides are complex glycolipid constituents of cell membranes. They are involved in many biological functions including cell-cell recognition, cell-matrix attachment, cell growth and cell differentiation. Analysis of tumor associated gangliosides may aid in the characterisation of tumour cells and their degree of malignant transformation. We have characterised a total of eight lung cancer cell lines (four small cell and four non-small cell lung cancer) with respect to ganglioside and alpha v integrin receptor expression. Ganglioside GD3 was detected using the monoclonal antibody R24. Ganglioside GM1 was detected using the beta-subunit of cholera toxin. Ganglioside 9-O-acetyl GD3 and the alpha v integrin receptor were measured using commercially available monoclonal antibodies. Our results indicate that small cell lung cancer cell lines express significant levels of GD3 and 9-O-acetyl GD3. Ganglioside GM1 and alpha v integrin receptor were not specific to any histological subtype. The expression of ganglioside GM1 and GD3 was independent of cell-cycle phase. We conclude that GD3 and 9-O-acetyl GD3 expression may be additional markers of the Small Cell Lung Cancer phenotype, but their significance is unknown. Therefore a characteristic ganglioside pattern cannot be defined according to histological subtype. alpha v integrin receptor expression is not unique to cells expressing GD3.
Fuentes
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R
Research Department, Velindre Hospital, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
Allman
R
R
Mason
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MD
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000378:metabolism; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D039564:Integrin alphaV; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D005732:Gangliosides; D039564:Integrin alphaV; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside; C026226:ganglioside, GD3; C049132:9-O-acetyl-GD3 ganglioside