Gicerin, an immunoglobulin superfamily protein, is expressed abundantly in the embryonic tissues and plays an important role in development through its cell adhesive activity. Interestingly, re-expression of gicerin is found in a variety of tumors. In the present study, the possible role of gicerin in the progression of mammary carcinoma was investigated. The normal mammary glands of mice were negative for gicerin, but sporadic mammary carcinoma cells expressed gicerin strongly on their surface. A mouse mammary carcinoma cell line, JYG-B, which is gicerin-negative was employed for introducing gicerin cDNA and the resultant gicerin transfectants were subsequently analyzed. In vitro, self-aggregation activity of the gicerin-transfectants progressed. For an in vivo study, invasive and metastatic potential of the cells was examined by a subcutaneous implantation into nude mice. The invasion of gicerin transfectants into the surrounding tissue was enhanced and severe metastasis to the lungs occurred. These findings suggest that gicerin is an effector for the malignant progression of mammary carcinoma.

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