The reduced expression of e-cadherin, alpha-catenin and gamma-catenin but not beta-catenin in human lung cancer.
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 cadherin-catenin complexes in 37 non-small cell lung carcinomas. In 19 cases, decreased expression of E-cadherin protein was observed. In 12 of them, decreased expression of alpha-catenin protein was also observed. Thus, decreased expression of alpha-catenin was apparently preceded by decreased expression of E-cadherin. In no cases was decreased expression of beta-catenin observed. In the 12 cases in which mRNA expression was analyzed by Northern blot analysis, decreased expression of mRNAs for E-cadherin and alpha-catenin was observed in 11 and 9 cases, respectively. In cases with reduced E-cadherin and alpha-catenin expression, immunohistochemistry revealed two types of staining pattern for the proteins. In the first type, almost all the cells in a tumor were stained weakly (homogeneous pattern). In the second type, different percentages of cells were stained strongly, the rest being almost negative for the staining (heterogeneous pattern).
Toyoyama
H
H
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
Nuruki
K
K
Ogawa
H
H
Yanagi
M
M
Matsumoto
H
H
Nishijima
H
H
Shimotakahara
T
T
Aikou
T
T
Ozawa
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051180:Desmoplakins; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin
C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051180:Desmoplakins; C495292:JUP protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin