Retinoic acid induces a specific membrane glycoprotein in human epithelial cell lines
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Abstract:
Retinoic acid (RA) inhibits growth, increases the cytokeratin content, and alters the cytoskeleton of the human cervical cell line NHIK 3025. Using RA-treated NHIK 3025 cells as immunogen we prepared murine monoclonal antibodies (IgG1) which recognized an RA-induced cell-surface antigen which could not be detected in untreated NHIK 3025 cells. Analysis of the Triton soluble proteins by SDS-gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting revealed that the cell-surface antigen is a 140-kDa glycoprotein (gp140). gp140 was also shown to be induced by RA in HeLa S3 cells and constitutively expressed in the human trophoblast cell line BeWo. gp140 was also detected in other human epithelial cell lines, but not in human hematopoietic cells. Expression of gp140 was induced in HeLa S3 cells by nanomolar concentrations of RA, and in NHIK 3025 cells by micromolar amounts (1-10 microM). The glycoprotein was detectable 3-6 h following exposure to RA and its expression was reversible upon removal of RA from the medium. Our results indicate that gp140 is a newly identified RA-inducible epithelial membrane glycoprotein which may represent a phenotypic differentiation marker for epithelial cells.
Insights
Retinoic acid (RA) induces a new cell surface glycoprotein, gp140, in human epithelial cells. This RA-inducible glycoprotein may serve as a marker for epithelial cell differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Retinoic acid (RA) is known to regulate cell growth and differentiation.
- Understanding molecular changes induced by RA is crucial for cell biology research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize novel cell surface antigens induced by retinoic acid.
- To investigate the potential of these antigens as markers for epithelial cell differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Generation of murine monoclonal antibodies against RA-treated NHIK 3025 cells.
- Analysis of Triton-soluble proteins using SDS-gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting.
- Detection of glycoprotein gp140 expression in various human cell lines.
Main Results:
- A 140-kDa glycoprotein (gp140) was identified as an RA-induced cell-surface antigen.
- gp140 expression was observed in epithelial cell lines (NHIK 3025, HeLa S3, BeWo) but not in hematopoietic cells.
- RA induced gp140 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with reversible expression upon RA removal.
Conclusions:
- gp140 is a newly identified RA-inducible epithelial membrane glycoprotein.
- gp140 may function as a phenotypic differentiation marker for epithelial cells.
- Further research into gp140's role in epithelial differentiation is warranted.