[Studies of intercellular communication in human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines of different metastatic potential].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between intercellular communication and three human rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cell lines of different metastatic potential.


METHODS
Indirect immunofluorescent staining and laser scanning confocal microscope (ISCM) were used to detect connexin 43 (CX43), a molecule related with gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). Fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching (FRAP) was used to detect function of GJIC.


RESULTS
A high level of CX43 protein expression was revealed in normal human myoblasts. CX43 protein was mainly localized on the surface of cells and sometimes in cytoplasm. CX43 expression was decreased in RMS cells. Both the detection rates and fluorescent intensity of CX43 decreased when the metastatic potential of RMS increased (P < 0.05). In contrast to normal, the fluorescence recovery rates of the RMS cells decreased and there was a negative correlation between the function of GJIC and malignancy of RMS cell lines (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Varying degrees of GJIC inhibition may correlate with different metastatic potential of RMS. This may help to determine the malignant behavior of RMS and be used as a prognostic index of RMS.
Zhang
J
J
Department of Pathology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China (Email: ritong_zhang@263.net)
Zhang
H
H
Bu
H
H
Yang
G
G
Li
S
S
Guo
L
L
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D018031:Connexin 43