The Role of Galectin-3 in the Interactions Between Breast Carcinoma Cells and Elastin
Abstract
The overall goal of this project is to understand the significance of the interactions between breast carcinoma cells and elastin. The central hypothesis states that expression of galectin-3 on the cell surface of breast carcinoma cells is critical for their interactions with elastin. Our data demonstrate that galectin-3 interacts and can be co-immunoprecipitated by antibodies to elastin from cell lysates of breast carcinoma cells. Cells which express galectin-3 on their cell surfaces adhere and proliferate on elastin fibers while non-expressers do not. In addition we have demonstrated that purified galectin-3 can enhance the adhesion of human breast carcinoma cells to elastin. We have also demonstrated that breast carcinoma cells which express galectin-3 on their surfaces adhere avidly to cryosectioned human lung tissue. The cells can be seen under light microscope specifically bound to lung elastin fibers. In comparison to bovine elastin fibers, the human lung elastin fibers appear to be more superior in their interactions with the breast carcinoma cells. We intend to develop this as a simple assay to evaluate the preferential growth of human breast cancer cells in lung extracellular matrix. In summary our data strongly suggest that the interaction of breast carcinoma cells with elastin plays a critical role in their growth and that galectin-3 is the molecule which modulates thisinteraction.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA386804
Entities
People
- Josiah Ochieng
Organizations
- Meharry Medical College