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High CD44 expression on human mesotheliomas mediates association with hyaluronan
1Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
The Cancer Journal From Scientific American
|October 1, 1995
Summary
CD44 is highly expressed on malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare cancer linked to asbestos. Cultured cell lines accurately model tumor CD44 expression and function, showing CD44 mediates hyaluronan binding, crucial for pleural fluid interaction.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer with environmental links to asbestos exposure.
- Understanding tumor cell markers like CD44 is crucial for mesothelioma research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine CD44 representation on mesothelioma tumor cells via immunohistochemistry.
- To assess if cultured mesothelioma cell lines reflect in-vivo CD44 expression and can model CD44 function.
- To investigate the functional role of CD44 in hyaluronan binding in mesotheliomas.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of 37 malignant pleural mesothelioma samples.
- Establishment and characterization of six mesothelioma cell lines from patient tumors and effusions.
- In vitro hyaluronan attachment assays using mesothelioma cell lines.
Main Results:
- CD44 was expressed on 92% of examined malignant pleural mesotheliomas, with varying levels based on histologic subtype.
- Established mesothelioma cell lines demonstrated high expression of the hematopoietic form of CD44.
- Four cell lines showed functional CD44-mediated attachment to hyaluronan, confirmed by antibody and enzyme treatments.
Conclusions:
- CD44 is significantly expressed on human malignant pleural mesothelioma.
- Established mesothelioma cell lines serve as reliable models for studying tumor CD44 expression.
- CD44 plays a functional role in mediating cell association with hyaluronan, a key pleural fluid component.