Complex cadherin expression in renal cell carcinoma

E-cadherin is an intercellular adhesion protein expressed by most epithelia. Decreased expression of E-cadherin correlates with tumor aggressiveness in most carcinomas. In renal cell carcinoma (RCC), however, this correlation is not well established and the prevalence of negative tumors is higher th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Ill.), 1996-07, Vol.56 (14), p.3234-3237
Main Authors: SHIMAZUI, T, GIROLDI, L. A, BRINGUIER, P. P, OOSTERWIJK, E, SCHALKEN, J. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
alpha Catenin
Biological and medical sciences
Cadherins - genetics
Cadherins - metabolism
Carcinoma, Renal Cell - metabolism
Cytoskeletal Proteins - metabolism
Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Humans
Kidneys
Medical sciences
Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases
Precipitin Tests
RNA, Messenger - genetics
RNA, Neoplasm - genetics
Tumor Cells, Cultured
Tumors of the urinary system
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Summary:E-cadherin is an intercellular adhesion protein expressed by most epithelia. Decreased expression of E-cadherin correlates with tumor aggressiveness in most carcinomas. In renal cell carcinoma (RCC), however, this correlation is not well established and the prevalence of negative tumors is higher than in other carcinomas. Our immunofluorescence study of alpha-catenin expression in 20 RCC cell lines revealed a typical honeycomb staining pattern in all of the lines, whereas only six expressed E-cadherin. This suggested that other cadherins are expressed in RCC lines. Indeed, immunoprecipitation with an anti-alpha-catenin antibody resulted in coprecipitation of proteins of Mr 125,000-135,000. Using Western blot, these proteins react with a pan-cadherin antibody. To identify these cadherin related proteins, RT-PCR using degenerated primers and sequence comparisons was carried out. We then assessed the expression of the identified cadherins. N-cadherin mRNA was present in all cell lines; and cadherin 6 mRNA was seen in 16 lines. Cadherin 11 (mRNA) and E-cadherin (protein) were expressed in five and six lines, respectively. A cadherin 4 transcript was observed in only one line, whereas no P-cadherin protein could be detected. Expression of the four main cadherins was also found in normal kidney (two samples tested) and RCC specimens (four samples). Thus, RCC and normal kidney express a complex set of cadherins.
ISSN:0008-5472
1538-7445