Syncytin is involved in breast cancer-endothelial cell fusions

TY - JOUR

T1 - Syncytin is involved in breast cancer-endothelial cell fusions

AU - Bjerregaard, Bolette

AU - Holck, S.

AU - Christensen, I.J.

AU - Larsson, Lars-Inge

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - Cancer cells can fuse spontaneously with normal host cells, including endothelial cells, and such fusions may strongly modulate the biological behaviour of tumors. However, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We now show that human breast cancer cell lines and 63 out of 165 (38%) breast cancer specimens express syncytin, an endogenous retroviral envelope protein, previously implicated in fusions between placental trophoblast cells. Additionally, endothelial and cancer cells are shown to express ASCT-2, a receptor for syncytin. Syncytin antisense treatment decreases syncytin expression and inhibits fusions between breast cancer cells and endothelial cells. Moreover, a syncytin inhibitory peptide also inhibits fusions between cancer and endothelial cells. These results are the first to show that syncytin is expressed by human cancer cells and is involved in cancer-endothelial cell fusions.

AB - Cancer cells can fuse spontaneously with normal host cells, including endothelial cells, and such fusions may strongly modulate the biological behaviour of tumors. However, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We now show that human breast cancer cell lines and 63 out of 165 (38%) breast cancer specimens express syncytin, an endogenous retroviral envelope protein, previously implicated in fusions between placental trophoblast cells. Additionally, endothelial and cancer cells are shown to express ASCT-2, a receptor for syncytin. Syncytin antisense treatment decreases syncytin expression and inhibits fusions between breast cancer cells and endothelial cells. Moreover, a syncytin inhibitory peptide also inhibits fusions between cancer and endothelial cells. These results are the first to show that syncytin is expressed by human cancer cells and is involved in cancer-endothelial cell fusions.

KW - Former LIFE faculty

KW - Syncytin

KW - breast cancer

KW - endothelial cell

KW - fusion

KW - ASCT-2

U2 - 10.1007/s00018-006-6201-9

DO - 10.1007/s00018-006-6201-9

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1023-294X

VL - 63

SP - 1906

EP - 1911

JO - EXS

JF - EXS

IS - 16

ER -