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Human teratocarcinoma stem cells: Glycolipid antigen expression and modulation during differentiation
Author(s) -
Andrews Peter W.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/jcb.240350407
Subject(s) - glycolipid , antigen , induced pluripotent stem cell , ganglioside , cellular differentiation , embryonic stem cell , biology , teratocarcinoma , microbiology and biotechnology , monoclonal antibody , stem cell , cell culture , antibody , immunology , biochemistry , genetics , gene
Abstract Teratocarcinomas are germ cell tumors in which pluripotent stem cells, embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells, undergo differentiation along the pathways resembling those occurring during early embryogenesis. Human EC cell lines established in vitro provide a model for studying embryonic cellular differentiation in a way that is pertinent to early human development. The predominant glycolipid antigens expressd by EC cells of both humans and mice have globoseries core structures; in humans they are terminally modified to yield the monoclonal antibody‐defined stage‐specific embryonic antigens SSEA‐3 and SSEA‐4, and also globo‐ABH antigens; in the mouse terminal modification yields the Forssman antigen rather than SSEA‐3 and ‐4. These observations focus attention on the possible role of the P‐blood group system, which regulates synthesis of globoseries oligosaccharides, in the behavior of cells in the early embryo and in teratocarcinomas. Marked changes in the core structures of the cell surface glycolipids occur as the EC cells differentiate; thus globoseries structures rapidly diminish and are replaced by lactoseries and then by ganglioseries glycolipids. During differentiation of the NTERA‐2 line of pluripotent human EC cells into neurons and other cell types, the various subsets of differentiated cells that arise are distinguished by their differential expression of new glycolipid antigens, particularly ganglioside GT 3 (recognized by antibody A2B5), and ganglioside 9‐0‐acetyl GD 3 (recognized by antibody ME311). Neurons are found among the A2B5 + /ME311 − cells.