Immunological analysis of glycolipids on cell surfaces of cultured human tumor cell lines: expression of lactoneotetraosylceramide on tumor cell surfaces

Glycolipids of human cell lines of colonic adenocarcinoma (Colo 205 and BM 314), gastric tumor (AZ 521 and KATO-III), and lung tumor (A 549) were studied by the immunohistochemical fluorescence technique, flow cytometric analysis and immunostaining on thin layer chromatoplates with antibodies against gangliotriaosylceramide (Gg3Cer), gangliotetraosylceramide (Gg4Cer), fucogangliotetraosylceramide (Fuc-Gg4Cer), blood group B active lipid, globopentaosylceramide (Gb5Cer) and lactoneotetraosylceramide (nLc4Cer). Anti-nLc4Cer antibody was the only antibody which reacted with all the tumor cell lines used. The glycolipid fractions of each cell line separated by Iatrobeads column chromatography were immunostained with the six antibodies mentioned above on thin layer plates. The presence of nLc4Cer was detected in all cell lines. On the other hand, Gg4Cer was detected in gastric tumor cell lines, and Gg3Cer was detected in AZ 521. Based on these results, the tumor cell lines were analyzed by flow cytometry using anti-nLc4Cer antibody. About 70% of total cells in each cell line were separated as nLc4Cer-expressing cells. The present findings, together with the occurrence of nLc4Cer in ascitic fluids of cancer patients (Taki, T., Kojima, S., Seto, H., Yamada, H., & Matsumoto, M. (1984) J. Biochem. 96, 1257-1265), suggest that nLc4Cer may be a tumor-associated lipid.

Ganglioside GM1b as an influenza virus receptor

Receptor activity toward influenza virus A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) of a pair of gangliosides, GM1b (NeuAc alpha 2-3 Ga1 beta 1-3 GalNAc beta 1-4 Gal beta 1-4 GLc beta 1-1'-ceramide) and GM1a (Gal beta 1-3 GalNAc beta 1-4 (NeuAc alpha 2-3) Ga1 beta 1-4 Glc beta 1-1'-ceramide) is described. Receptor activity was monitored by an assay system including incorporation of gangliosides into chicken asialoerythrocytes which had lost the biological response for the virus, and subsequent estimation of recovery of virus-mediated haemagglutination and haemolysis. GM1a and GM1b were incorporated in similar amounts into chicken asialoerythrocytes. It was found that GM1b-erythrocytes revealed distinct recovery of influenza virus A/Aichi-mediated agglutination at 4 degrees C and subsequent haemolysis at 37 degrees C at pH 5.3. However, restoration of biological responsiveness of the erythrocytes to the virus by incorporation of GM1a was very low under the same conditions. The above results indicate that the haemagglutinin of the influenza virus A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) recognizes the saliosyl residue linked to nonreducing 'terminal' galactose rather than 'inner' galactose in the ganglio-tetraose core of gangliosides. GM1b could be one of the functional receptors to the influenza virus.

A new type of blood group B active glycosphingolipid in rat bone marrow cells. Occurrence of the glycolipid in rat immunocytes and ascites hepatoma

A major glycosphingolipid in rat bone marrow cells was purified, and its structure was studied. The glycolipid was found to exhibit blood group B activity by the hemagglutination inhibition test. The structure was determined to be (formula; see text) by studies of nuclear magnetic resonance, sequential hydrolysis by exoglycosidases, linkage analysis of methylated sugars by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and immunological tests. The blood group B active glycolipid was detected not only in the bone marrow cells but also in spleen, thymus, and rat ascites hepatoma AH 7974F cells. Besides the glycolipid, gangliotriaosylceramide, gangliotetraosylceramide, and fucogangliotetraosylceramide were commonly detected in these cells. The similarity between the glycolipid species on the cell surfaces of the immunocytes and the tumor cells is discussed with the respect to an escape mechanism of the tumor cells from the immunosurveillance system.

Heterotopic gastric mucosa in the small intestine

A case of tumorous heterotopic gastric mucosa which acted as a leading point of jejunal double-barrelled intussusception in a 16-year-old girl is presented. The lesion, 5 x 3 x 2 cm, was polypoid in shape with sharp circumscription. Histologically, the tumor consisted of gastric fundic and pseudopyloric glands. The pertinent literature is also reviewed.

Glycolipid composition of ascitic fluids from patients with cancer

The glycolipid composition of ascitic fluids from nine patients with cancer and one pleural effusion from a hepatoma patient was studied. Glucosylceramide, lactosylceramide, globotriaosylceramide, and globotetraosylceramide were found in all samples and also in normal human serum. These glycolipids accounted for more than 90% of the neutral glycolipid fraction and the composition in ascitic fluids was similar to that in normal human serum. From ascitic fluids, several minor glycolipids, which could not be detected in normal human serum, were isolated and characterized by exoglycosidase treatment. Lactoneotetraosylceramide was found in eight samples of ascitic fluids, and globopentaosylceramide was detected in two samples from hepatoma and one from pancreatic cancer. A fucolipid which was converted to lactoneotetraosylceramide by alpha-L-fucosidase treatment was recognized in two samples from hepatoma patients. In the ganglioside fraction, GM3 was the predominant component both in normal human serum and in ascitic fluid. The GM2 content in ascitic fluids was much higher than that in normal human serum. From these results, lactoneotetraosylceramide and GM2 are possible candidates as cancer markers, because they seemed to be derived from cancer tissues by shedding.

Basal cell epithelioma occurring in an epidermal nevus

An unusual case is presented of a thirty-year-old woman in whom basal cell epithelioma developed from a preexisting localized epidermal nevus in the scalp. The epidermal nevus was not associated with any abnormal pilosebaceous complexes.

An improved method for anti-glycolipid antibody and glycolipid determination by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using polystyrene beads

Sensitive determination of anti-glycolipid antibody titer and glycolipid content by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using polystyrene beads was achieved. Glycolipid-coated polystyrene beads were used as the immobilized antigen. As antigen glycolipids, gangliotetraosylceramide (GA1), gangliotriosylceramide (GA2) and neolactotetraosylceramide (paragloboside) were used. Concentrations of 1-500 ng glycolipid in liposomes/ml or 0.1-100 micrograms glycolipid/ml could be used for the glycolipid determination. Glycolipid determination by the competitive inhibition method was not influenced by the presence of other glycolipids. A great advantage of this method is that the glycolipid-coated beads can be used repeatedly by washing the used beads with 3M NaSCN solution. The method was applied to the detection of auto-antibody against GA1 in ascitic fluid from cancer patients.

[Surgical treatment of metastatic lung tumors]

Surgical treatments were performed in 88 cases of metastatic lung tumors, where 5 years survival rate in all resected cases was 37.5%. We report our principles on the surgical treatment for metastatic lung tumors. First of all, the biological characteristics of the primary lesion is among the most important factors in considering the indication for the surgical treatment in metastatic lung tumors. For example, chemotherapy must be the first choice in treating lung metastasis of choriocarcinoma, and hormone therapy in lung metastasis of mammary carcinoma. On the other hand, such tumors as osteogenic sarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, colorectal carcinoma and Grawitz's tumor, should be treated by surgery. Another point in the surgery of the metastatic lung tumor is the choice of the mode of operation for the solitary metastatic tumor according to tumor type. As a principle, partial or segmental resection is preferably chosen for metastatic lung tumor. However, the location of the lung tumor, tumor size, hilar lymph node metastasis and the pattern of invasion to the surrounding lung tissue must be considered to decide the surgical procedure. From these considerations, the segmental or partial resection for metastatic sarcomas and the lobectomy for the metastatic carcinomas are appropriate in general.

Developmental changes of ganglioside compositions and biosyntheses in rat bone marrow cells, spleen and thymus

Studies on developmental changes of ganglioside synthesis and compositions were carried out using rat bone marrow cells, spleen and thymus. Ganglioside synthesis was studied by assaying sialyltransferase for GM3 synthesis and GM1b synthesis. In bone marrow cells, peaks of both enzyme activities occurred coincidentally in 2- to 5-week-old rats. In spleen, the highest activities of these enzymes were observed in one-week-old rats. GM1b synthesis in the thymus was almost constant after birth, but GM3 synthesis could not be detected at any age examined. Developmental changes of gangliosides in these tissues were analyzed by thin layer chromatography. Gangliosides corresponding to GM1b and GM3 were recognized in each tissue. The ganglioside content of the bone marrow cells increased in 2- to 5-week-old rats. Ganglioside corresponding to GM1b was isolated from the bone marrow cells, and its structure was confirmed to be the same as that of GM1b by sequential hydrolysis of the ganglioside with glycosidases. GM3 was a predominant ganglioside in newborn rat spleen. Ganglioside content in the spleen increased during 2-5 weeks after birth and became constant after 9 weeks. In the thymus, more than 10 different gangliosides were discriminated, but significant changes of ganglioside pattern with the progress of development could not be observed. The developmental change of the ganglioside composition coincided well with the change of sialyltransferase activities.

Differentiation-associated changes of glycolipid composition and metabolism in mouse myeloid leukemia cells. Induction of globotriaosylceramide and a galactosyltransferase

This study was to find out whether induction of special glycolipids or glycosyltransferases for glycolipid synthesis which might be involved in the cell functions occurred during the differentiation. Mouse myeloid leukemia cell line (M1-), the differentiated cells (M1+), and a subcloned cell line (Mm1) were used for this purpose. Gangliotriaosylceramide (GA2) was the major glycolipid component in M1- cells. As a result of differentiation of M1- into M1+ cells, globotriaosylceramide (CTH) was newly induced as the main glycolipid, while GA2 decreased to a minor component. GA2 was found to be the main glycolipid in Mm1 cells but no CTH was recognized. All precursor glycolipids and glycosyltransferases required to complete the biosynthetic pathway glucosylceramide (CMH) leads to lactosylceramide (CDH) leads to GA2 leads to gangliotetraosylceramide (GA1) leads to sialosylgangliotetraosylceramide (GM1b) were found in M1- and also in Mm1 cells. A galactosyltransferase activity for CTH synthesis from CDH increased 10 fold during the differentiation. The induction of CTH in M1+ cells could be attributed to the increase of the galactosyltransferase activity. Both CTH as a surface marker and the galactosyltransferase as an enzyme marker are proposed as valuable markers of differentiation in M1- cells. Besides the galactosyltransferase, N-acetylglucosaminyltransferease involved in the formation of lactotriaosylceramide (amino-CTH) increased up to 3 fold during the differentiation. The increase of the enzyme activity seemed to be responsible for the biosynthesis of lactoneotetraosylceramide (paragloboside) which appeared in M1+ cells.

A new method for purification of anti-glycosphingolipid antibody. Avian anti-hematoside (NeuGc) antibody

A new method for purification of anti-glycosphingolipid antibodies had been developed. N-Glycolylneuraminyl(alpha 2-3)lactosylceramide [hematoside (NeuGc)] could be hydrophobically bound on octyl-Sepharose 4B in the presence of 0.1 M KCl. The Sepharose gel coated with hematoside (NeuGc) was used as immunoadsorbent for affinity column chromatography to purify avian anti-hematoside (NeuGc) antibody. The procedure is very simple, reproducible and applicable to purification of almost all anti-glycosphingolipid antibodies. The glycosphingolipid used for the affinity chromatography could be recovered without any destruction by successive extraction of the gel with methanol and methanol/chloroform (1:2, v/v).

Simple purification method for anti-glycolipid antibody using polystyrene latex beads coated with gangliotetraosylceramide

A simple method for the purification of antiglycolipid antibody is described. Polystyrene latex beads coated with gangliotetraosylceramide (GA1) were used as immunoadsorbent for the purification of anti-GA1 antibody. The antibody bound to the GA1-coated latex beads was released with 1 M NaSCN solution. The glycolipid-coated latex beads seem valuable not only for the purification of antibodies but also as a tool for investigating the function of glycolipids.

Glycosphingolipid biosynthesis through asialogangliosides in rat bone marrow cells

Glycolipid biosynthesis in rat bone marrow cells has been studied with reference to four kinds of glycosyltransferases catalyzing the transfer of N-acetylgalactosamine, galactose, N-acetylneuraminic acid, and fucose to each glycolipid acceptor. It was demonstrated that glycosyltransferase activities which synthesize galactosylglucosylceramide (CDH) from glucosylceramide (CMH), N-acetylgalactosaminylgalactosylglucosylceramide (GA2) from CDH, galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminylgalactosylglucosylceramide (GA1) from GA2 and N-acetylneuraminylgalactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminylgalactosylglucosylceramide (Gm1b) from GA1 were all present in rat bone marrow cell homogenate. Fucosyltransferase activity catalyzing the transfer of fucose from GDP-fucose to GA1 was also recognized in the cell homogenate. Neutral glycolipid extracted from rat bone marrow cells was analyzed by thin layer chromatography and glycosidase treatments. The presence of glycolipids corresponding to GA2, GA1 and fucolipid was demonstrated. From these results, it was concluded that the biosynthesis of glycolipid through asialogangliosides is a major biosynthetic route in rat bone marrow cells.

DNA content of pancreatic duct hyperplasia and carcinoma

The DNA content of epithelial nuclei of hyperplastic and carcinomatous ducts of the pancreas was examined cytophotometrically. The materials were obtained from 2 cases of nonpapillary hyperplasia, 3 of papillary hyperplasia, 2 of atypical hyperplasia and 2 of tubular adenocarcinoma, which were selected by reviewing the pancreata of about 1,600 human autopsy cases. A gradual shift was observed in the DNA content from the normal level to a carcinomatous level through various stages of hyperplasia. Based on these findings, the hypothesis that pancreatic duct hyperplasia is a potent precursor of pancreatic carcinoma is discussed.

Study of asialogangliosides on surface membranes of rat bone marrow cells and macrophages

The presence of asialogangliosides on membrane surfaces of rat bone marrow cells and macrophages was studied by an immunological method using anti-glycolipid antibodies with high specificity. The antibodies against N-acetylgalactosaminyl(beta 1-4)galactosyl(beta 1-4)glucosylceramide (GA2), galactosyl(beta 1-3)N-acetylgalactosaminyl(beta 1-4)galactosyl(beta 1-4)glucosylceramide (GA1) and fucosyl(alpha 1-2)galactosyl(beta 1-3)N-acetylgalactosaminyl(beta 1-4)galactosyl(beta 1-4)glucosylceramide (Fuco-GA1) were prepared, and used for cytotoxicity testing and indirect staining by the immunofluorescence technique. In the cytotoxicity test, approximately 40-50% of rat intraperitoneal macrophages were killed by each of the anti-glycolipid antisera. This finding was confirmed by the indirect immunofluorescence staining method with the purified anti-GA2, anti-GA1, and also anti-Fuco-GA1 IgG. When a rat was preimmunized with bovine serum albumin, all macrophages induced in ascites fluid were found to possess GA1 by the staining method. Immature granulocytes were stained specifically with the anti-GA2 antibody. Granulocytes, myelocytes, and megakaryocytes were stained with the anti-GA1 antibody. Blastic myelocytes were stained with the anti-Fuco-GA1 IgG, but lymphocytes were not stained with any of these anti-asialoganglioside antibodies. From these observations, free-type cells such as macrophages and bone marrow cells were found to possess asialogangliosides as membrane components.