A Cell ELISA for the quantification of MUC1 mucin (CD227) expressed by cancer cells of epithelial and neuroectodermal origin.

Quantitative analysis of MUC1, a cell membrane associated mucin, expressed by intact cells of epithelial origin previously has been limited to flow cytometry, which requires using large quantities of cells and antibodies. Here, for the first time, we report the development of a novel Cellular-based Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Cell ELISA) to quantify the expression of MUC1 by cell lines of epithelial and neuroectodermal origin using an antibody recognizing a specific tandem repeat found in the extracellular domain of MUC1. In contrast to flow cytometry, this method requires a much lower number of cells.

Clathrin-mediated entry and cellular localization of chlorotoxin in human glioma.

Background: Chlorotoxin (TM601), a scorpion venom- derived 36-AA peptide, is an experimental drug against recurrent glioma with tumor specificity but unknown route of intracellular distribution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the route of entry and cellular localization of TM601 in glioma cells.

Results: We have found that in human gliomas, lung carcinoma and normal vascular endothelial cells, TM601 localizes near trans-Golgi while in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) and astrocytes it is dispersed in the cytoplasm.

Modulation of hyaluronan production by CD44 positive glioma cells.

This study examines the functional relationship between glioma cell production of hyaluronan (HA), known to play a role in glioma invasion, expression of its CD44 receptor, and glioma cell viability. Production of HA by CD44 positive mouse G26 and human U373 glioma cell lines was evaluated and compared to that of a CD44 positive mouse fibroblast-like L929 cell line. We found that both G26 and U373 MG glioma cells, but not L929 fibroblast-like cells, synthesized HA.

CD44 adhesion molecule and neuro-glial proteoglycan NG2 as invasive markers of glioma.

Glioma invasion into the CNS involves the interaction of tumor cells with the host's cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules. In this study, the expression of ECM-associated and cell-associated proteins such as the transmembrane CD44 adhesion molecule and neuro-glial proteoglycan 2 (NG2), a member of the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan family, were evaluated during glioma progression, in vitro and in vivo, using a model of a highly invasive and aggressive intracerebral mouse G-26 glioma. We found a marked increase in CD44 and NG2 expression in brain tissue containing glioma.

Role and mechanisms of interleukin-1 in the modulation of neurotoxicity.

Objective: Recent studies on cerebral ischemia in the rat have demonstrated that administration of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) markedly reduces the volumes of infarcts which are associated with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated neurotoxicity. These observations suggested that endogenous interleukin-1 (IL-1) may be involved in the mediation of excitotoxic neuronal injury following ischemia.

Method: In the present studies, we examined the role of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in NMDA-related and microglia-induced excitotoxicity in cocultures of mixed neurons and microglia.