Glycosylation alterations of cells in late phase apoptosis from colon carcinomas

Comparisons of carbohydrate profiles between control and apoptotic colon carcinoma cells were performed by flow cytometry using a set of lectins and anti-carbohydrate antibodies. The six cell lines analyzed presented distinct carbohydrate profiles before induction of apoptosis. PHA-L and MAA binding decreased after induction of apoptosis by UV-treatment. In contrast an increase of PNA binding was observed after induction of apoptosis, except on SW-48 cells for which a decrease occurred. A decrease of SNA binding was observed after induction of apoptosis from strongly positive control cell lines, whereas it increased on weakly positive ones. All the blood group related antigens A, H, Lewis a, Lewis x, Lewis b, and Lewis y, had their expression strongly diminished on apoptotic cells. These changes occurred irrespective of the mode of apoptosis induction since similar results were obtained after UV, TNFalpha, or anti-Fas treatment. Fucosyltransferases activities were also decreased after apoptosis induction, except for alpha1,3fucosyltransferase in anti-Fas treated HT-29 cells, where it was strongly augmented. This could be attributed to the IFNgamma preteatment required to induce Fas expression on these cells. Fucosidase activity decreased after induction of apoptosis suggesting that it was not responsible for the loss of fucosylated structures. In the rat PRO cell line, H blood group antigens are mainly carried by a high molecular weight variant of CD44. It could be shown that the loss of H antigen after induction of apoptosis correlated with a loss of the carrier glycoprotein.