Open AccessExpression of CD44 Variant Isoforms in Normal and Neoplastic Cells of the Lung
Author(s) -
Washimi Osuke,
Ueda Ryuzo,
Ariyoshi Yutaka,
Suyama Mot okazu,
Seki Tsuneo,
Takahashi Toshitada,
Takahashi Takashi
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
japanese journal of cancer research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 0910-5050
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1994.tb02915.x
Subject(s) - gene isoform , cd44 , biology , pathology , metastasis , lung , homing (biology) , lung cancer , northern blot , reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction , cancer research , cell , blot , western blot , receptor , cancer , gene expression , medicine , gene , genetics , ecology
CD44 is a cell surface receptor that has been implicated in lymphocyte homing, hematopoiesis, cell migration and possibly also tumor metastasis. In the present study, expression of CD44 variant (CD44v) isoforms was analyzed in 23 lung cancer specimens together with corresponding normal lung tissues by Southern blot analysis coupled with reverse transcription‐polynterase chain reaction amplification. We found that CD44v isoforms were expressed in all lung cancer specimens, suggesting a possible role in the establishment of metastases by these highly malignant tumors, but normal tissues were also positive. This is in marked contrast to the previous reports of essentially negligible expression of CD44v isoforms in normal colon and breast, and suggests a physiological function in the lung.