[E-selectin mediates early adhesion of HepG2 hepatoma cells to endothelial cells].
OBJECTIVE
To study the role of E-selectin and sLe(x) in the adhesion between hepatoma cells (HepG2) and endothelial cells, and to select drugs capable of inhibiting such adhesion.


METHODS
HepG2 cells were vitally stained with fluorescent dye BCECF-AM. Adhesion between the fluorescent HepG2 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was examined by solid phase adhesion assay in vitro. A number of agents were tested for their effect on the tumor cell-endothelial adhesion.


RESULTS
sLe(x) on the surface of HepG2 cells and E-selectin expressed on the surface of HUVEC were necessary for early adhesion. HepG2 cells could activate HUVEC to increase their adhesiveness to HepG2 cells. Dexamethasone, phenylarsenic oxide, levamisole and actinomycin D were able to block the adhesion between HepG2 to HUVEC at low concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
sLe(x) and E-selectin are important molecules in the early adhesion of hepatoma cells to HUVEC. Cytokine-like factors of HepG2 origin are likely involved in the activation of endothelial cells in the target tissue. Agents capable of inhibiting NF kappa B can be hopefuly used as anti-adhesion drugs to inhibit metastasis of liver cancer.
Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Y
Y
Liu
C
C
Zhang
B
B
He
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology
D019040:E-Selectin