Ultrastructural localization of binding sites for PNA and VVA-B4 lectins in human breast cancer cell lines detected by confocal fluorescence microscopy
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- Published online on: November 1, 2002 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.21.5.1009
- Pages: 1009-1014
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Abstract
Three cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HBL-100, MDA-MB 231) and subnormal breast epithelial cell line MCF-10A were labeled with FITC-conjugated VVA-B4 lectin, specific for D-GalNAcα-O-ser/thr, matching the structure of Tn antigen sugar residues, and with RTIC-conjugated PNA lectin, specific for DGalβ1-3GalNAc-O-ser/thr, corresponding to the structure of T antigen. Simultaneous expression of Tn and T antigens on the same cells (but in widely differing proportions) led to their large heterogeneity and occurrence of numerous cell subpopulations within each of the studied cell lines. This observation proved that the changes leading to the formation of Tn antigen are not caused by an irreversible genetic mutation of β1-3-galactosyltransferase. Expression of Tn antigen on MCF-10A cells with normal (or subnormal) karyotype suggests that the process of malignant transformation of the cell begins with the changes in molecular structure of glycoconjugates.
