Aberrant expression of neuropilin-1 and -2 in human pancreatic cancer cells.
OBJECTIVE
Neuropilin (Np)-1 and -2 are coreceptors for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This study was designed to assess their role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).


METHODS
We assessed Np-1 and Np-2 expression by real-time quantitative PCR in relation to the expression of VEGF ligands and receptors in pancreatic cancer cell lines and tissues.


RESULTS
ASPC-1, CAPAN-1, and PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells and tumor-derived, laser-captured pancreatic cancer cells exhibited higher Np-1 and Np-2 mRNA levels than VEGF receptor-1, -2, or -3 mRNA levels. Transfection of Np-1 and Np-2 cDNAs in COS-7 cells, and treatment with tunicamycin revealed that both proteins were glycosylated. Both proteins were expressed in pancreatic cancer cell lines, in the PDAC samples, and in acinar cells adjacent to the cancer cells. The normal pancreas was devoid of Np-1 immunoreactivity, whereas Np-2 immunoreactivity was present in the endocrine islets and in some acinar cells, but not in ductal cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The aberrant localization of Np-1 and Np-2 in the cancer cells in PDAC suggests that in addition to exerting proangiogenic effects, these coreceptors may contribute to novel autocrine-paracrine interactions in this malignancy.
Fukahi
Kimi
K
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.
Fukasawa
Mitsuharu
M
Neufeld
Gera
G
Itakura
Jun
J
Korc
Murray
M
D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism; D007834:Lasers; D008024:Ligands; D039942:Neuropilin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D039943:Neuropilin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection; D014415:Tunicamycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008024:Ligands; D039943:Neuropilin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014415:Tunicamycin; D039942:Neuropilin-1; D012313:RNA