title: CD44 and hyaluronan promote invasive growth of B35 neuroblastoma cells into the brain.
abstract: Hyaluronan and its receptor CD44 are known to contribute to the invasive growth of different tumors of the central nervous system. It is not known, however, if CD44 is sufficient to activate invasive growth into the brain tissue. This study examines how CD44 regulates the motility and invasive growth of B35 neuroblastoma cells into a hyaluronan-rich environment. A comprehensive experimental approach was used encompassing biochemical techniques, single molecule microscopy, correlative confocal and scanning electron microscopy, morphometry of cellular extensions, live-cell imaging and tracking, transplantation onto organotypic brain slices, two-photon imaging and invasion assays. We found that CD44-GFP fusion protein was localized in filopodia and in focal bleb-like protrusions where it provided binding sites for hyaluronan. Transient expression of CD44-GFP was sufficient to increase the length of filopodia, to enhance cell migration and to promote invasive growth into hyaluronan-rich brain tissue. Thus, CD44 controls molecular devices localized in filopodia and bleb-like specializations of the cell surface that enhance cell migration and invasive growth.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Nussallee 11, D-53115 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pusch
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boeckenhoff
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Glaser
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kirfel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hans
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Steinfarz
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Swandulla
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kubitscheck
authors.forename: Volkmar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gieselmann
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Brüstle
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kappler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012235:Rhodamines; C009434:tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid