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Heterogeneity of aberrant immunoglobulin expression in cancer cells

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 8, pages 479–485 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Accumulating evidence has shown that immunoglobulin (Ig) is ‘unexpectedly’ expressed by epithelial cancer cells and that it can promote tumor growth. The main purpose of this study was to explore the components of the cancerous Ig and its possible function. The presence of cancerous Ig in the Golgi apparatus was confirmed by immunofluorescence, indirectly suggesting that the cancerous Ig was processed and packaged in cancer cells. Western blot analysis and ELISA results indicated that cancer cells produced membrane Ig and secreted Ig into the supernatant fraction. The cancerous Ig consists of an α heavy chain and a κ light chain. Finally, by analyzing the Ig components pulled down by protein A beads, the cancerous Ig was found to be structurally distinct from normal Ig. The cancerous Ig was truncated or aberrant. Although the underlying mechanism that causes the abnormalities has not been determined, our current discoveries strengthen our previous findings and promise fruitful future explorations.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program (863) of China (no. 2006AA02A404), the National Nature Science Foundation of China (nos. 30471968 and 30772465) and the CMB Educational Thrust Project (04-799).

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Author notes

  1. Dr Y Cao, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Health, Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Xiangya Road 110, Changsha 410078, China. E-mail: ycao98@vip.sina.com

  2. Dr ZG Dong, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA. E-mail: zgdong@hi.umn.edu

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Health, Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China

    Duosha Hu, Zhi Duan, Yiqun Jiang, Hui Zheng, Lili Li & Ya Cao

  2. Department of Immunology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China

    Ming Li

  3. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Center of Clinical Gene Diagnosis and Therapy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China

    Haidan Liu

  4. The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA

    Ann M Bode & Zigang Dong

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  1. Duosha Hu
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Hu, D., Duan, Z., Li, M. et al. Heterogeneity of aberrant immunoglobulin expression in cancer cells. Cell Mol Immunol 8, 479–485 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2011.25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2011.25

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