Abstract
The integrin family consists of broadly expressed cell surface adhesion receptors, each member of which is composed of a non-covalently linked α/β heterodimer. Integrin receptors are involved in the interaction with matrix proteins and may contribute to invasion and metastasis of carcinomas. To examine the biological role integrins play in colorectal carcinoma we compared the expression of integrin α- and β-subunits in situ and in vitro. Eight newly established cell lines derived from immunohistochemically characterized colorectal carcinomas together with two sublines obtained after nude mouse passage and the commonly used colon carcinoma lines HT-29, SW480, SW620, and COLO 205 were investigated by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. The carcinomas in situ expressed α1-, α2-, α3-, α6-, αv-and β1-subunits in variable amounts while being devoid of α4, α5 and β3. The individual integrin profile of the tumour in tissue was essentially maintained in vitro. However, a neo-expression of the α5 chain was found, together with an induction or increase in α1, α2, α3, αv and β1 levels. No decrease in integrin subunit expression was observed. Standard-serum and serum-free medium revealed no striking differences in α- and β-chain expression in the cell lines HT-29 and COLO 205. In serum-free medium, SW480 showed a slight increase of α1 and α5 and a decrease of α3 and αv while SW620 expressed more α1. We conclude that the great variability of adhesion receptor expression of the integrin family in colorectal carcinomas in situ is essentially maintained in vitro, although culture conditions which are only marginally influenced by serum factors unpredictably lead to some increase in expression or even induction of several integrin subunits.
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This work is dedicated to Prof. Wilhelm Doerr on the occasion of this 80th birthday
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Koretz, K., Brüderlein, S., Henne, C. et al. Comparative evaluation of integrin α- and β-chain expression in colorectal carcinoma cell lines and in their tumours of origin. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 425, 229–236 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00196144
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00196144