Summary It has been reported that cytokeratin 8 (CK8) is expressed in all non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC). We hypothesized that antigenic changes of CK8 may occur in some NSCLC cell lines. To prove this, Western immunoblot analysis using anti-human CK8 monoclonal antibodies as well as immunohistological staining of CK8 were performed in NSCLC cell lines. As a result, CK8 which had a higher molecular weight than recombinant CK8 was demonstrated in two of eight NSCLC cell lines. In addition, this CK8 contained antigenic epitopes of CA19-9. This CK8 with higher molecular weight, may have played a role in the process of invasion or metastasis of NSCLC.
© 1999 Cancer Research CampaignKeywords: antibody; CA19-9; cytokeratin 8; non-small-cell lung cancer
769British Journal of Cancer (1999) 81(5), 769-773 © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign Article no. bjoc.1999 Received 24 November 1998 Revised 28 April 1999 Accepted 10 May 1999Correspondence to: J Fujita Proteins were electrophoretically transferred onto nitrocellulose membrane by the method of Towbin et al (1983). Proteins were detected by immunoblotting, using five clones of anti-CK8 monoclonal antibodies (clones Ks 8.7, Ks 8.10, Ks 8.17.2, and M20 were purchased from Progen Biotechnik GMBH, Heidelberg, Germany; clone C-51 was purchased from YLEM S. r. 1., Roma, Italy), peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG antibody (Sigma ImmunoChemicals, lot 094H-4810, St Louis, MO, USA), and stained with 4CN PLUS for chromogenic detection of horseradish peroxidase (NEM TM Life Science Products, Boston, MA, USA). Western immunoblots for CA19-9 were also performed using three clones of anti-CA19-9 monoclonal antibodies (clone C241:5:1:4 was purchased from YLEM S. r. 1., Roma, Italy; clone ZY-CO9 was purchased from Zymed Laboratories, Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA; clone 1116-NS-19-9 was purchased from Centocor Co., Malvern, PA, USA), and peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG antibody IgG antibody, and stained with 4CN PLUS.
Immunohistochemistry of lung cancer cells by several anti-CK8 antibodiesTo evaluate the expression of CK8 in several NSCLC cell lines, immunohistochemical staining by anti-human monoclonal antibody against CK8 was performed. Cells were immunohistochemically stained, employing the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method (Dako LSAB kit-peroxidase, DAKO Corp., Kyoto, Japan) using mouse monoclonal antibodies against CK8 (clone 35 βH11, Enzo Diagnostics, Inc., New York, NY, USA, 1:5000 dilution). In order to retrieve and increase the immunoreactivities, preincubation with 0.1% pronase at 37°C for 20 min was performed.
Lectin blottingSDS-PAGE and protein transfer onto nitrocellulose membrane was performed as described above. Ten kinds of horseradish peroxidase-labelled lectins, purchased from EY Laboratories, Inc. (San Mateo, CA, USA), were used for lectin blotting. Proteins were detected by ten kinds of peroxidase-labelled lectins (1:100 dilutions, following manufacturer's instruction), and stained with 4CN PLUS. Lectins used were as follows; Maclura pomifer...