Galectin-3 maintains the transformed phenotype of thyroid papillary carcinoma cells.
Galectin-3, a beta-galactoside-binding protein, is highly expressed in thyroid papillary carcinomas, while functional relevance of galectin-3 overexpression to the malignant phenotype remains elusive. In the present study we transfected galectin-3 antisense cDNA into the human thyroid papillary carcinoma cell line NPA which expresses an innately high level of galectin-3, and examined the effect of antisense inhibition of galectin-3 expression on the transformed phenotype. There was no difference in anchorage-dependent growth between the antisense clones and either the control or parental clones. In contrast, anchorage-independent growth and saturation density of the antisense clones were significantly suppressed compared to those of either the control or parental clones. These results demonstrate that overexpression of galectin-3 in thyroid papillary carcinoma cells is necessary for the maintenance of transformed phenotype, and suggest galectin-3 as a potential target for therapeutic interventions in the future.
Yoshii
T
T
Department of Otolaryngology and Sensory Organ Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Inohara
H
H
Takenaka
Y
Y
Honjo
Y
Y
Akahani
S
S
Nomura
T
T
Raz
A
A
Kubo
T
T
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D016373:DNA, Antisense / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000737:chemistry; D037502:Galectin 3; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000737:chemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014162:Transfection; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D017931:DNA Primers; D016373:DNA, Antisense; D005353:Fibronectins; D037502:Galectin 3; D007797:Laminin; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins