Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0699790 (colon cancer)
 28,837 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Complementary DNA clones encoding four different mucin core peptides have been isolated. However, the expression of these mucin genes in the colon has not been systematically studied. The present investigation used Northern blot analysis to study the expression of MUC1, MUC2, MUC3, and MUC4 mRNA in paired normal and cancerous colonic tissues, and nine colon cancer cell lines. Results were correlated with the clinicopathological features of the tumors and with the immunohistochemical expression of several carbohydrate tumor-associated antigens that may reside on mucins. MUC1 mRNA was expressed in all colonic tissues, and levels in paired normal and cancer tissues were similar in most cases. MUC2 and MUC3 mRNAs were expressed in both normal and cancer tissues, but levels were often decreased in the cancers. MUC4 mRNA was present in normal mucosa with comparable or sometimes greater expression in cancers. There was no apparent correlation between the expression of any particular mucin gene or pattern of mucin genes and the site, stage, or histological type of tumor. In addition, the expression of mucin-associated carbohydrate antigens did not correlate with any individual mucin gene or group of mucin genes. In colon cancer cell lines all four MUC genes were expressed rather weakly or not at all. These results indicate that the human colon expresses a broad repertoire of mucin genes which are differentially regulated in malignancy. Whether this differential regulation of mucin genes affect the behavior of the tumor and results in the altered glycosylation commonly seen in these requires further investigation.
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PMID:Mucin gene expression in colonic tissues and cell lines. 139 23

The synthesis and secretion of mucin-like high-molecular glycoprotein was studied in 2 human colon cancer cell lines that spontaneously differentiate in culture (Caco-2 and T84) and in 2 cell lines that do not spontaneously differentiate (LS174T and HT29). Mucin, quantitated by 3H-glucosamine labelling and chromatography on Sepharose CL-4B was found to be produced by all 4 cell lines. The mucinous nature of the labelled high-molecular glycoprotein was verified by enzymatic degradation treatments (heparinase, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase ABC, and N-glycanase), alkaline-borohydride treatment, inhibition of labelling by the glycosylation inhibitor benzyl-alpha-GalNAc, and by CsCl-density-gradient centrifugation. In all 4 cell lines, an inverse correlation of mucin synthesis with cell density was demonstrated. In Caco-2 cells, the spontaneous post-confluent enterocytic differentiation with increased brush-border enzyme expression was associated with a decrease in mucin synthesis and in the activities of polypeptidyl GalNAc transferase and beta 1,3-galactosyltransferase activity. Using cDNA probes for 2 distinct human intestinal mucins (MUC2 and MUC3), we found that all 4 colon cancer cell lines expressed mucin message, but the types of mucin mRNA expressed differed. These data indicate that mucin-like glycoproteins can be synthesized by cell lines derived from non-mucinous colon cancer, whether or not they undergo spontaneous differentiation in culture. These cell lines may serve as in vitro models for studying apomucin heterogeneity and control of mucin gene expression.
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PMID:Mucin synthesis and secretion in relation to spontaneous differentiation of colon cancer cells in vitro. 172 5

Human intestinal mucins are large glycoconjugates (greater than 1,000,000 D) that coat the epithelium, serving to lubricate and protect. Apart from this physiologic function, mucins are important in that they are frequently altered in cancer; thus, they have potential usefulness as tumor markers. We have isolated mucins from human LS174T colon cancer cells and small intestine, deglycosylated these highly purified glycoconjugates, produced polyclonal antibodies to the apomucins, and used these antibodies to isolate two different types of cDNA clones that encode different apomucins. The first class of cDNA clones was isolated using antibodies to deglycosylated LS174T mucin. These cDNA, designated SMUC or MUC2, contain 69 nucleotide tandem repeats that encode a repetitive peptide that is extremely rich in threonine and proline. Northern blots using MUC2 cDNA as probes exhibit large (7,600 bases) and polydisperse hybridization bands. This gene is polymorphic within the human population and is located on chromosome 11. The second class of cDNA was isolated using antibodies to deglycosylated small intestinal mucin. These cDNA, designated SIB or MUC3, have 51 nucleotide tandem repeats that encode a threonine- and serine-rich repetitive peptide. This mucin also is encoded by a large, polydisperse message, but it is clearly distinct from MUC2 as it is located on chromosome 7. Both the MUC2 and MUC3 mucins are expressed in colonic tumors; however, the level of their expression is quite variable. Thus, at least two mucins are expressed by the human gastrointestinal tract. Elucidation of the regulation of these two genes will be important in understanding the physiology and pathophysiology of the human intestine.
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PMID:The structure of human intestinal apomucins. 189 19

To determine the relative expression of distinct mucin genes in normal and neoplastic tissue, antibodies and cDNA probes that recognize the core tandem repeat sequences of membrane-bound (MUC1) and secreted (MUC2 and MUC3) mucins were used for immunohistochemical and RNA Northern and slot-blot analysis. MUC1 mRNA was detected in all epithelial tissues tested. MUC1 core peptide, recognized by monoclonal antibodies 139H2 and DF3, was highly expressed on apical membranes of bronchus, breast, salivary gland, pancreas, prostate, and uterus, and was sparsely expressed in gastric surface cells, gallbladder, small intestine, and colonic epithelium. In contrast, MUC2 and MUC3 gene expression was primarily restricted to the intestinal tract. MUC2 mRNA was highly expressed in normal jejunum, ileum, and colon, compared with very low levels in normal bronchus and gallbladder. MUC3 mRNA was highly expressed in normal jejunum, ileum, colon, and gallbladder. Immunohistochemical studies using antibodies against synthetic MUC2 (anti-MRP) and MUC3 (anti-M3P) peptides indicate that MUC2- and MUC3-producing cells in the gastrointestinal tract are distinct. Goblet cells of the small intestine and colon reacted strongly with anti-MRP, whereas M3P reactivity was restricted to columnar cells of small intestinal villi, surface colonic epithelium, and gallbladder. Mucin protein epitopes and mRNA levels were frequently altered in adenocarcinomas compared to corresponding normal tissues. Alterations included increased expression, aberrant expression, and, less frequently, loss of expression. Increased MUC1 immunoreactivity was observed in most adenocarcinomas of the breast, lung, stomach, pancreas, prostate, and ovary. In addition, with the exception of prostate cancer, focal aberrant expression of MUC2 and MUC3 epitopes was frequently observed. Increased MUC1, MUC2, and MUC3 epitopes were present in colon adenocarcinomas of all histological subtypes, with the greatest increase of MUC2 epitopes observed in colloid (mucinous) colon cancers. MUC2 or MUC3 mRNA levels were increased in colloid colon cancer compared with normal colon, however in well- and moderately well-differentiated colon cancers MUC1, 2 and 3 mRNA levels were decreased. Compared with corresponding normal tissue, MUC1 mRNA levels were increased in breast cancer and well-differentiated lung cancers, and MUC3 mRNA was increased in gastric adenocarcinomas. Normal stomach lacked both MUC2 and MUC3 immunoreactivity and mRNA, however, MUC2 and MUC3 proteins and mRNA were highly expressed in gastric intestinal metaplasia. In conclusion, mucin genes are independently regulated and their expression is organ- and cell type-specific. Furthermore, neoplastic transformation is associated with dys-regulated expression of both membrane-bound and secreted mucin core protein epitopes and may be due to altered mucin mRNA levels and/or altered mucin glycosylation.
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PMID:Heterogeneity of mucin gene expression in normal and neoplastic tissues. 767 77

Mucins, high-M(r) glycoproteins with a large amount of O-glycosidically linked carbohydrate, protect the colonic epithelial surface and are altered in ulcerative colitis and colon cancer. At least two mucin genes, MUC2 and MUC3, are expressed at high levels in the human intestine. As an experimental model for studying the biosynthesis of human intestinal mucins, we used HM3 colon cancer cells. When mature mucins labelled with [3H]glucosamine or [3H]threonine were analysed by gel filtration, it was found that secreted mucins (M(r) > 10(8) were larger than soluble cellular mucins (M(r) approx. 5 x 10(6)). Only secreted mucin was sensitive to reduction. Both MUC2 and MUC3 proteins, identified by labelling with [3H]threonine or [35S]cysteine and immunoprecipitation with antibodies to synthetic mucin peptides, were already of large size (M(r) > 180,000) by the earliest labelling time (5 min). The MUC3 precursor was completely degraded by trypsin, but the MUC2 precursor had a trypsin-resistant fragment of M(r) approx. 240,000 containing threonine and cysteine. The trypsin-resistant MUC2 fragment contained N-linked carbohydrate, as indicated by a decrease in size as a result of peptidyl N-glycosidase digestion or tunicamycin treatment of HM3 cells. These results show that HM3 colon cancer cells produce at least two distinct human intestinal mucins. They also indicate that the mechanisms of biosynthesis of intestinal mucins differ from those of other mucin-like glycoproteins that have been studied.
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PMID:Biosynthesis of two distinct types of mucin in HM3 human colon cancer cells. 811 Jan 87

This study sought to produce monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) which reacted with the MUC2 core protein. Two MAbs [3A2 (IgG1) and 4F1 (IgM)] were produced by immunising female BALB/c mice with gel-formed mucin from the LS174T colon cancer cell line followed by a KLH conjugate of a 29 amino acid synthetic peptide whose sequence was derived from the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) region of a MUC2 cDNA clone. The MAbs reacted with synthetic MUC2 VNTR peptides but not synthetic MUC1 or MUC3 VNTR peptides, and showed specific reactivity in Western blotting with a high molecular weight protein produced by the LS174T colon carcinoma cell line. The use of shorter peptides indicated that the minimum peptide epitopes for these MAbs were different. Mab 3A2 reacted with amino acids 5-19 of the MUC2 VNTR by inhibition ELISA but not by direct ELISA, while 4F1 reacted with this peptide in both assays. Furthermore, 4F1 reacted in direct ELISA when a larger (29 amino acid) MUC2-derived peptide was coated onto the assay plate by incubating in carbonate buffer or by drying the peptide onto the assay plate, while 3A2 only reacted when this peptide was coated in carbonate buffer. The different specificity of the MAbs was also illustrated by the reactivity of 4F1 but not 3A2 with partially deglycosylated cystic fibrosis mucin. Immunohistochemical analysis with these MAbs revealed a strong reactivity with lung, gastric and colon tumours relative to normal tissue, with some breast and ovarian tumours also reacting. Both MAbs stained some normal goblet cells in the perinuclear region but not the mucin droplet or secreted mucin, indicating a reaction with immature (poorly glycosylated) mucin in the endoplasmic reticulum and/or golgi, but not with mature (fully glycosylated) mucin. In contrast, tumours showed strong diffuse cytoplasmic staining. 4F1 also showed weak apical cytoplasmic staining in some goblet cells and stained some tumours which showed no reactivity with 3A2. These antibodies should prove useful in the study of MUC2 structure and function, and in the diagnosis of some tumours.
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PMID:Monoclonal antibodies reacting with the MUC2 mucin core protein. 851 4

Phorbol esters such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) have been reported to modulate diverse cellular responses through signal transduction pathways including the protein kinase C (PKC) pathway. In the present study, we sought to determine the effect of PMA on mucin gene expression and on the biological properties of a human colon cancer cell line, HM3. The cells were treated for 8 and 24 h with various concentrations of PMA and total RNA was extracted and Northern and slot blot analyses were carried out using MUC2, MUC3 and MUC5AC mucin cDNA probes to assess the steady state levels of mRNA. Spent media were collected and the level of cancer associated carbohydrate antigens (T, Tn, sialyl Tn, sialyl Lex, and sialyl Lea) and matrix-degrading metalloproteinase (MMPs) activity were examined. Trypsinized cells were used for assessing in vitro invasion, motility and adhesion to matrigel. Our results showed that PMA caused upregulation of steady state mRNA levels of MUC2, MUC3 and MUC5AC which was inhibited after treatment with protein synthesis inhibitors. Calphostin C, a highly specific inhibitor of protein kinase C significantly inhibited the PMA induced induction of mRNA levels of MUC2, MUC3, and MUC5AC. The levels of all cancer-associated mucin carbohydrate antigens examined in the media were increased by PMA treatment. PMA also caused an increase in MMPs activity and in in vitro invasion and motility properties, but did not affect adhesion of HM3 cells to matrigel. Thus, PMA caused a significant increase in the expression of all three mucin genes through signaling pathways involving protein kinase C and increased secretion of mucin associated carbohydrate antigens. These changes were associated with increases in MMP activity as well as by increases in the invasive and motility properties of HM3 colon cancer cells. These data suggest that protein kinase C signaling pathways may be involved in mucin gene regulation and in modulating the invasive and metastatic properties of colon cancer cells.
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PMID:Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induces alteration in mucin gene expression and biological properties of colon cancer cells. 1093 88

A current challenge is to define the biological characteristics of colon tumor cells resistant to chemotherapy. Distinct sub-populations of mucus-secreting cells were previously obtained from the colon cancer cell line HT-29 after long-term treatment with the anti-cancer drugs, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and methotrexate (MTX). Since mucins are increasingly implicated as playing a role in carcinogenesis, we studied the pattern of mucin expression in two HT-29 clones of mucus-secreting and two clones of enterocyte-like phenotype which differ in their capacity to resist to 5-FU and/or MTX. The expression of both transmembrane (MUC1, MUC3, MUC4) and secreted gel-forming (MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B, MUC6) mucins in clones was studied by northern and/or western blotting. The four HT-29 clones showed three cellular phenotypes: (1) The mucus-secreting clone HT29-5F12 consists of unpolarized cells with mucus secretions that have anti-colonic mucin immunoreactivity, and mainly expresses MUC2 and is resistant to 5-FU and sensitive to MTX; (2) The mucus-secreting clone HT29-5M21 forms a monolayer of polarized cells with strong anti-gastric mucin immunoreactivity and mainly expresses MUC5AC and MUC5B and is resistant to MTX and sensitive to 5-FU; (3) The two enterocyte-like clones, HT29-5F7 and HT29-5M12 are resistant to both MTX and 5-FU and express mainly MUC1 and MUC5B, respectively. These clones which originate from a same colorectal tumour and display different patterns of mucin expression as well as differing resistance to MTX and 5-FU will make useful in vitro models for studying the potential role of mucins or other biological markers in drug resistance pathways.
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PMID:Differential mucin expression in colon carcinoma HT-29 clones with variable resistance to 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate. 1505 Mar 69

Micropapillary carcinoma of the colon and rectum is associated with an adverse prognosis. This tumour type displays reverse polarity of the tumour cells and is stated to be characterised by an inside-out epithelial membrane antigen (EMA)/MUC1 staining. Nine cases of primary colorectal carcinoma and one omental metastasis were studied by means of immunohistochemistry, using antibodies to detect EMA, MUC1, MUC2, MUC3, MUC5AC, MUC6, CD10, CA125, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The inside-out pattern staining with EMA/MUC1 ranged from diffuse circumferential through focal and partial to negative, but in some cases CEA, MUC3 and CD10 also showed this pattern staining, sometimes more clearly than did EMA or MUC1. The reverse polarity of colorectal micropapillary carcinomas is sometimes better visualised by immunostains other than EMA/MUC1.
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PMID:Reversed polarity of the glandular epithelial cells in micropapillary carcinoma of the large intestine and the EMA/MUC1 immunostain. 2515 20