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Expression and function of autocrine motility factor receptor in human choriocarcinoma
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA. fyelian@cms.cc.wayne.edu
Objective:
Our purpose was to determine whether human choriocarcinoma cells express autocrine motility factor receptor (AMF-R) and to study its function in this tumor system.
Study Design:
The expression and localization of AMF-R were compared in choriocarcinoma and normal placental trophoblasts using both cell lines and tissue sections. In addition, migratory properties of choriocarcinoma cells and normal placental cells was determined.
Results:
Using immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase staining, we have detected the expression of AMF-R in choriocarcinoma cells with receptor clustering on the cell surface, while term placenta cells expressed AMF-R less intensely with no receptor clustering. In choriocarcinoma tissues, AMF-R was strongly expressed in malignant cytotrophoblasts cells while adjacent normal villous trophoblast cells and necrotic regions were weakly or negatively stained. Choriocarcinoma cells responded to AMF-R stimulation with increased cell motility, while term placental cells were unresponsive.
Conclusion:
Human choriocarcinoma cells express functional cell surface AMF-R in vitro and in choriocarcinoma tissue suggesting that this receptor may play an important role in cancer cell motility.