E-cadherin but not N-cadherin expression is correlated with the intracellular distribution of catenins in human hepatocellular carcinomas.
Cadherins are Ca2+-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules, and are involved in the formation and maintenance of the histo-architecture. Using a combination of biochemical and immunohistochemical methods, we analyzed the expression of the cadherin-catenin complex in 34 human hepatocellular carcinomas. Unexpectedly, we found the expression of N (neural)-cadherin in normal hepatocytes and all hepatocellular carcinomas examined. In 18 cases, the decreased expression of E (epithelial)-cadherin was observed. Among them, the decreased expression of alpha-catenin and gamma-catenin (plakoglobin) was also observed in 9 and 6 cases, respectively. Thus the decreased expression of alpha-catenin and gamma-catenin was apparently preceded by the decreased expression of E-cadherin. The decreased expression of beta-catenin was not observed in any of the cases analyzed. beta-Catenin was found to accumulate in the cytoplasm of hepatocellular carcinomas with the decreased expression of E-cadherin, despite the presence of N-cadherin at the cell-cell contacts. These results suggest a pivotal role of E-cadherin in the intracellular distribution of catenins in hepatocellular carcinomas.
Departments of Biochemistry and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
K
K
Nuruki
H
H
Toyoyama
S
S
Ueno
M
M
Hamanoue
G
G
Tanabe
T
T
Aikou
M
M
Ozawa
D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051180:Desmoplakins; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin
C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051180:Desmoplakins; C495292:JUP protein, human; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin