Disruption of oligosaccharide processing in murine tumor cells inhibits their susceptibility to lysis by activated mouse macrophages

Mass spectrometric profiling of N-linked oligosaccharides and uncommon glycoform in mouse serum with head and neck tumor

N-linked oligosaccharides obtained from total serum of mice with implanted head and neck tumors were analyzed and compared with those from control samples of healthy mice. Methods used include a combination of a derivatization procedure with phenylhydrazine (PHN) and analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Oligosaccharides were enzymatically released from total serum with PNGaseF and purified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a reversed-phase column. Mass spectra contained ion peaks of labeled oligosaccharides and MS/MS experiments provided useful data for the structural elucidation of these compounds. More than 40 N-glycans with compositions characteristic of high-mannose, hybrid, complex, neutral, and sialylated structures were identified in the serum of tumoral mice. Significant differences between samples were observed with respect to the abundances of high mannose and hybrid glycans. These oligosaccharides showed higher relative intensities in the spectra obtained from the cancer sera. Complex sialylated oligosaccharides had similar abundances in both types of sera, with the exception of fucosylated biantennary disialylated oligosaccharide, which was mostly detected with lower abundance in control samples. In the MALDI spectra, several minor species corresponded to uncommon carbohydrates. These structures have been investigated in detail by MS/MS. Among these novel glycoforms, a few sialylated oligosaccharides without a free reducing end were identified. Also, glycans with an extra 60 u were observed and likely feature the presence of a 2-acetamido-2-deoxyoctose residue attached on antennae of 3- or 6-linked mannose.

Expression of L-PHA-binding proteins in breast cancer: reconstitution and molecular characterization of beta 1-6 branched oligosaccharides in three-dimensional cell culture

Expression of beta 1-6 branched oligosaccharides in human breast cancer cells was investigated in vivo and in vitro. Lectin histochemical and lectin blotting analyses of surgically resected specimens were performed using L-PHA (phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinin) lectin, which binds to beta 1-6 oligosaccharides. The glycoproteins bearing beta 1-6 oligosaccharides of breast cancer tissues were found to be 170 kD and 120 kD in molecular weight, and the former appeared to be an epitope of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The beta 1-6 oligosaccharides were expressed in both cancer cell lines at the outer layer of the colonies when cultured in type I collagen, but not in agarose gel. No correlation was observed between beta 1-6 expression and cell cycle. The beta 1-6 oligosaccharides did not coincide with breast cancer-associated antigens, such as CEA, MUC1, and cathepsin D. The beta 1-6 oligosaccharides of these cell lines were markedly inhibited when swainsonine, a mannosidase II inhibitor, was added to the culture medium. The 120 kD molecule, which was obtained from MCF-7 cells cultured in type I collagen gel, was consistent with that of breast cancer tissues and was similar to lysosome-associated membrane glycoproteins (LAMPs). The results suggest that the glycoproteins bearing beta 1-6 branched oligosaccharides in human breast cancer incorporate an epitope of CEA and human LAMPs and that the expression of LAMPs may depend on their surrounding matrices and may play an important role in cancer invasion or metastasis.

Monocyte activation by tumour cells: a role for carbohydrate structures associated with CD2

Monocytes/macrophages can kill tumour cells and mediate tumour-destructive host responses e.g. by releasing tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The underlying mechanisms of tumour cell recognition, however, are not clear. Previous work in our laboratory suggested that carbohydrate moieties associated with the T cell adhesion molecule CD2 of Jurkat cells induce TNF-alpha secretion by human monocytes. In this study we present data indicating that the stimulatory capacity for TNF-alpha secretion is confined to carbohydrate moieties of tumour cell CD2. Irradiated resting peripheral T cells did not display stimulatory activity in contrast to irradiated Jurkat cells although surface expression of CD2 was similar. Activated T cells, however, induced TNF-alpha production by monocytes via a CD2-independent mechanism. Only affinity purified CD2 prepared from Jurkat cells but not from non-transformed T cells activated monocytes to secrete TNF-alpha. This activation process was blocked by anti-CD2 antibodies. Neuraminidase and PNGaseF treatment of isolated CD2 inhibited the stimulatory capacity whereas pronase treatment did not. These data suggest that carbohydrate moieties containing sialic acid mediate stimulation of monocytes. Taken together, these results indicate a role for glycosylation patterns typical of tumour cells in the recognition process of tumour cells by monocytes/macrophages.

Dual function of macrophage galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-specific lectins: glycoprotein uptake and tumoricidal cellular recognition

We investigated whether the interaction of peritoneal macrophages with extracellular ligands is mediated by C-type lectins specific for galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine. The carbohydrate-binding domain of mouse galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-specific lectin was prepared in a recombinant form. The purified recombinant lectins were tested for competitive inhibition against glycoprotein uptake and against tumoricidal effect. Thioglycolate-elicited macrophages internalized galactosylated bovine serum albumin in vitro. The internalization was blocked by recombinant macrophage lectins. Activated macrophages obtained after intraperitoneal injection of a nonspecific immune potentiator, OK432, did not internalize galactosylated bovine serum albumin. These cells elicited a cytotoxic effect against P815 murine mastocytoma cells, and the effect was blocked by recombinant macrophage lectins. These results indicated that galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-specific C-type lectins expressed on the surface of inflammatory macrophages and on activated tumoricidal macrophages mediate two distinct functions, i.e. glycoprotein uptake and tumoricidal effector mechanisms.

Increase of beta 1-6-branched oligosaccharides in human esophageal carcinomas invasive against surrounding tissue in vivo and in vitro

The -GlcNAc beta 1-6Man- (beta 1-6) branched N-glycosidic oligosaccharides expressed on tumor cells have been found to contribute to malignant and metastatic potential in experimental tumor models. Phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinin (L-PHA) requires the beta 1-6-linked lactosamine antenna for high-affinity binding and was used histochemically to characterize the distribution of these sugar structures in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas from 42 patients. Leukoagglutinin-reactive carcinoma cells in the invasive tumors were distributed predominantly on the outer surface of the tumor adjacent to the surrounding tissue. Furthermore, when TE 1 cells, a human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma line, were cultured in a collagen gel matrix to obtain colonies in a three-dimensional form, these colonies exhibited high affinity for L-PHA binding only in the outer cell layer facing the collagen matrix, unrelated to the cell growth cycle. These findings suggest that the increase in beta 1-6-branched oligosaccharides in esophageal carcinomas is an important trait of the tumor in the invasion into the surrounding tissue.

Recognition of N-glycosidic carbohydrates on esophageal carcinoma cells by macrophage cell line THP-1

Cell-to-cell contact between macrophages and tumor cells is an important initial reaction in a host defense mechanism against tumor cells. The authors have studied cell surface components of human esophageal carcinoma cells recognized by macrophages. Superoxide release from THP-1 cells, a human macrophage cell line, was analyzed in their interaction with a battery of human squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (TE) originated from esophageal cancer patients. The macrophage-triggering ability of TE 1 cell line, a high stimulant, was reduced after treatment with trypsin or tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-glycosidic glycosylation. Addition of monosaccharides was efficient in competitive inhibition of these cellular interaction. Moreover, con-A-resistant mutation of TE 1 cells was found to reduce their macrophage-triggering ability, associated with increase of L-PHA-binding capacity, suggesting substitution to the GlcNAc beta(1----6)-linked lactosamine antenna in N-glycosidic carbohydrates. These findings suggest that terminal residues of N-glycosidic carbohydrates on some esophageal carcinoma cells may contribute to the recognition sites of macrophages.

Inhibition of glycoprotein processing blocks assembly of spicules during development of the sea urchin embryo

Previous studies have implicated an 130-kD glycoprotein containing complex, N-linked oligosaccharide chain(s) in the process of spicule formation in sea urchin embryos. To ascertain whether the processing of high mannose oligosaccharides to complex oligosaccharides is necessary for spiculogenesis, intact embryos and cultures of spicule-forming primary mesenchyme cells were treated with glycoprotein processing inhibitors. In both the embryonic and cell culture systems 1-deoxymannojirimycin (1-MMN) and, to a lesser extent, 1-deoxynojirimycin (1-DNJ) inhibited spicule formation. These inhibitors did not affect gastrulation in whole embryos or filopodial network formation in cell cultures. Swainsonine (SWSN) and castanospermine (CSTP) had no effect in either system. Further analysis revealed the following: (a) 1-MMN entered the embryos and blocked glycoprotein processing in the 24-h period before spicule formation as assessed by a twofold increase in endoglycosidase H sensitivity among newly synthesized glycoproteins upon addition of 1-MMN; (b) 1-MMN did not affect general protein synthesis until after its effects on spicule formation were observed; (c) Immunoblot analysis with an antibody directed towards the polypeptide chain of the 130-kD protein (mAb A3) demonstrated that 1-MMN did not affect the level of the polypeptide that is known to be synthesized just before spicule formation; (d) 1-MMN and 1-DNJ almost completely abolished (greater than 95%) the appearance of mAb 1223 reactive complex oligosaccharide moiety associated with the 130-kD glycoprotein; CSTP and SWSN had much less of an effect on expression of this epitope. These results indicate that the conversion of high mannose oligosaccharides to complex oligosaccharides is required for spiculogenesis in sea urchin embryos and they suggest that the 130-kD protein is one of these essential complex glycoproteins.

Correlation of susceptibility and cytostatic factor-inducing activity of tumour cells to peritoneal macrophages. The role of concanavalin A-binding glycopeptides extracted from the tumour cell surface

L929, 3T12-3, B16, 3LL, and YAC1 cells with cytostatic factor (CF)-inducing activity from Lactobacillus casei-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages (LCEPM) were susceptible to the cytostatic activity of LCEPM and to LCEPM-produced CF, but L1210, P388D1, and Colon 26 cells, which have no CF-inducing activity, were resistant to that of LCEPM and and to the CF. The resistance of P815 cells to that of LCEPM was stronger than that of 3T12-3 cells, but the CF-inducing activity of P815 cells was about 50% weaker than that of 3T12-3 cells. Release of CF from LCEPM was also caused by heat-killed (100 degrees C, 10 min) 3T12-3 or P815 cells, and this release was inhibited by D-mannose. The CF-inducing activity of heat-killed 3T12-3 or P815 cells was reduced by mild trypsin digestion (37 degrees C for 10 min). A D-mannose-containing glycopeptide or glycoprotein (GP) was separated from 3T12-3 or P815 cells by concanavalin A (Con A) or wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) affinity chromatography. The CF were released from LCEPM by stimulation with the Con A-binding GP of the tumour cells, but the WGA-binding GP had little activity. It is suggested that tumour cells with CF-inducing activity may be susceptible to the cytostatic activity of LCEPM, and those without CF-inducing activity may be resistant to the cytostatic activity of LCEPM and the release of CF from activated macrophages may be caused by the Con A-binding GP of the tumour cell surface.

In vitro and in vivo release of cytostatic factors from Lactobacillus casei-elicited peritoneal macrophages after stimulation with tumor cells and immunostimulants

The effect of tumor cells and immunostimulants on the release of cytostatic factors (CF) from Lactobacillus casei YIT 9018 (LC)-, Corynebacterium parvum (CP)- or peptone-elicited peritoneal macrophages (PM) was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Significant release of CF into the culture medium from PM elicited with LC was induced by seven of eight mitomycin C-pretreated tumor cell lines and not by normal spleen cells, while no CF was released extracellularly from peptone-elicited PM given the same stimulus. CF were released from LC-elicited PM (LCEPM) after stimulation with LC, bacille Calmette-Guérin, streptococcal preparation OK-432, fucoidan or lipopolysaccharide, and LC but not CP induced CF production in the peritoneal cavities of LC- or CP-primed mice. The release of CF from LCEPM after stimulation with mitomycin C-pretreated 3T12-3 cells was inhibited by D-mannose and not by L-fucose. L-Rhamnose and mannose 6-phosphate, but not D-mannose or L-fucose, caused the release of CF from the PM. It was suggested that the release of CF from activated PM is caused by stimulation by some tumor cells, sugars, or bacterial immunostimulants, D-Mannose and L-rhamnose on the surface of tumor cells or bacteria, respectively, may plan an important role in the release of CF from activated macrophages.