ST6GalNAc-I controls expression of sialyl-Tn antigen in gastrointestinal tissues

TY - JOUR

T1 - ST6GalNAc-I controls expression of sialyl-Tn antigen in gastrointestinal tissues

AU - Marcos, Nuno T

AU - Bennett, Eric P

AU - Gomes, Joana

AU - Magalhaes, Ana

AU - Gomes, Catarina

AU - David, Leonor

AU - Dar, Imran

AU - Jeanneau, Charlotte

AU - Defrees, Shawn

AU - Krustrup, Dorrit

AU - Vogel, Lotte K

AU - Kure, Elin H

AU - Burchell, Joy

AU - Taylor-Papadimitriou, Joyce

AU - Clausen, Henrik

AU - Mandel, Ulla

AU - Reis, Celso A

PY - 2011/1/6

Y1 - 2011/1/6

N2 - Sialyl-Tn is a simple mucin-type carbohydrate antigen aberrantly expressed in gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas and in the precursor lesion intestinal metaplasia. Sialyl-Tn tumour expression is an independent indicator of poor prognosis. We have previously shown in vitro that ST6GalNAc-I and ST6GalNAc-II sialyltransferases can synthesize sialyl-Tn. The aim of the present study was to establish whether ST6GalNAc-I is the major enzyme responsible for the expression of sialyl-Tn. We used a model of CHO-ldlD cells producing only MUC1-Tn glycoform and showed that ST6GalNAc-I is the key-enzyme leading to sialyl-Tn biosynthesis. We developed novel monoclonal antibodies specific for ST6GalNAc-I and evaluated its expression in gastrointestinal tissues. ST6GalNAc-I was detected in normal colon mucosa co-localized with O-acetylated sialyl-Tn. Expression was largely unaltered in colorectal adenocarcinomas. In contrast, we found that ST6GalNAc-I is weakly expressed in normal gastric mucosa, but over-expressed in intestinal metaplasia, co-localized with sialyl-Tn. In gastric carcinomas ST6GalNAc-I was also associated with sialyl-Tn, but with heterogeneous staining and partial co-localization. Our results showed ST6GalNAc-I as the major enzyme controlling the expression of cancer-associated sialyl-Tn antigen in gastrointestinal tissues.

AB - Sialyl-Tn is a simple mucin-type carbohydrate antigen aberrantly expressed in gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas and in the precursor lesion intestinal metaplasia. Sialyl-Tn tumour expression is an independent indicator of poor prognosis. We have previously shown in vitro that ST6GalNAc-I and ST6GalNAc-II sialyltransferases can synthesize sialyl-Tn. The aim of the present study was to establish whether ST6GalNAc-I is the major enzyme responsible for the expression of sialyl-Tn. We used a model of CHO-ldlD cells producing only MUC1-Tn glycoform and showed that ST6GalNAc-I is the key-enzyme leading to sialyl-Tn biosynthesis. We developed novel monoclonal antibodies specific for ST6GalNAc-I and evaluated its expression in gastrointestinal tissues. ST6GalNAc-I was detected in normal colon mucosa co-localized with O-acetylated sialyl-Tn. Expression was largely unaltered in colorectal adenocarcinomas. In contrast, we found that ST6GalNAc-I is weakly expressed in normal gastric mucosa, but over-expressed in intestinal metaplasia, co-localized with sialyl-Tn. In gastric carcinomas ST6GalNAc-I was also associated with sialyl-Tn, but with heterogeneous staining and partial co-localization. Our results showed ST6GalNAc-I as the major enzyme controlling the expression of cancer-associated sialyl-Tn antigen in gastrointestinal tissues.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21622148

SN - 1945-0494

VL - 3

SP - 1443

EP - 1455

JO - Frontiers in Bioscience - Elite

JF - Frontiers in Bioscience - Elite

ER -