This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Grimm, T. Articles by Johnson, J. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Grimm, T. Articles by Johnson, J. P.

Ectopic Expression of Carcinoembryonic Antigen by a Melanoma Cell Leads to Changes in the Transcription of Two Additional Cell Adhesion Molecules¹

Institute of Immunology, University of Munich, Goethestrasse 31, D-80336 Munich, Germany

Ectopic expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) by the melanoma cell line Mel Wei led to alterations in cell morphology and to changes in the expression of two melanoma-associated cell adhesion molecules, neural cell adhesion molecule and MUC18. The normally flat, triangular cells developed neurite-like extensions and exhibited a less organized growth pattern. When compared to untransfected Mel Wei cells or to those transfected with an irrelevant cDNA, two independent CEA transfectants showed a decrease in the expression of neural cell adhesion molecule and an increase in the expression of MUC18. These changes, which are characteristic of the metastatic phenotype in melanomas, were observed at the cell surface and at the level of mRNA and were independent of adherent growth. Steady-state levels of neural cell adhesion molecule mRNA were reduced in CEA-expressing cells by approximately 5-fold, while MUC18 mRNA showed an 8-fold increase. No significant differences in the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 or ß-2 microglobulin were observed between Mel Wei and CEA-Mel Wei. These data indicate that changes in the expression of a single cell adhesion molecule such as CEA can lead to alterations in the expression of unrelated cell adhesion molecules and may contribute to the general derangement of adhesive interactions observed frequently in tumor cells.

¹ This work was supported by a grant from the Mildred-Scheel-Stiftung, Deutsche Krebshilfe, Bonn, Germany.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 3/31/95. Accepted 6/ 8/95.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. W. Weston, K. M. Hiller, J. P. Mayben, G. A. Manousos, K. M. Bendt, R. Liu, and J. C. Cusack Jr. Expression of Human {{alpha}}(1,3)Fucosyltransferase Antisense Sequences Inhibits Selectin-mediated Adhesion and Liver Metastasis of Colon Carcinoma Cells Cancer Res., May 1, 1999; 59(9): 2127 - 2135. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E. Aplin, A. Howe, S. K. Alahari, and R. L. Juliano Signal Transduction and Signal Modulation by Cell Adhesion Receptors: The Role of Integrins, Cadherins, Immunoglobulin-Cell Adhesion Molecules, and Selectins Pharmacol. Rev., June 1, 1998; 50(2): 197 - 264. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Yan, X. Deng, M. Chen, Y. Xu, M. Ahram, B. F. Sloane, and E. Friedman Oncogenic c-Ki-ras but Not Oncogenic c-Ha-ras Up-regulates CEA Expression and Disrupts Basolateral Polarity in Colon Epithelial Cells J. Biol. Chem., October 31, 1997; 272(44): 27902 - 27907. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]