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Aberrant expression, function and localization of connexins in human esophageal carcinoma cell lines with different degrees of tumorigenicity

  • Original Papers
  • Experimental Oncology
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Abstract

We have analyzed the level of mRNA expression and protein localization of the gap-junction protein connexins (Cx) 26, 32, and 43, as well as gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in seven human esophageal careinoma cell lines (TE series). These cell lines exhibited various degrees of tumorigenicity in nude mice; two (TE-1 and TE-8) formed progressively growing tumors, four (TE-2. TE-3, TE-9, and TE-13) developed non-progressing tumors and one (TE-10) showed no tumorigenicity. We found that normal human esophageal tissue expressed both Cx26 and Cx43 and that most of the cell lines expressed lower amounts of Cx26 and Cx43 mRNAs than normal human esophageal tissues or none at all. The co-expression of Cx26 and Cx43 mRNAs and proteins was observed only in two cell lines (TE-3 and TE-9) that showed a high level of GJIC and non-progressive tumor development. However, the non-tumorigenic cell line TE-10 did not express either connexin. A possible regulator of GJIC, E-cadherin, was expressed in all cell lines. These results suggest that aberrant expression and function of connexins are common among human esophageal carcinoma cell lines, but there is no quantitative relationship between connexin expression and tumorigenic properties of these cell lines.

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Abbreviations

Cx:

connexin

GJIC:

gap-junctional intercellular communication

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Author notes

  1. Yumiko Oyamada & Masahito Oyamada

    Present address: Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical College, S-1. W 17, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060, Japan

  2. Alfredo Fusco

    Present address: Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare L. Califano, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 cours Albert Thomas, 69372, Lyon Cedex 08, France

    Yumiko Oyamada, Masahito Oyamada, Alfredo Fusco & Hiroshi Yamasaki

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  1. Yumiko Oyamada
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  2. Masahito Oyamada
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  3. Alfredo Fusco
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  4. Hiroshi Yamasaki
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Oyamada, Y., Oyamada, M., Fusco, A. et al. Aberrant expression, function and localization of connexins in human esophageal carcinoma cell lines with different degrees of tumorigenicity. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 120, 445–453 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01191797

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01191797

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