Cell-cell interactions influence oligosaccharide modifications on mucins and other large glycoproteins

Intratumoral phenotypic diversity is well documented with regard to tumor associated carbohydrate antigens (TACA). The factors which control the expression of these cell-surface oligosaccharides on different cells of the same tumor are not understood. We investigated the expression of a panel of mucin associated oligosaccharides in cell lines growing at different surface densities (number of cells per cm2 of growth flask). Results show that the apparent expression of extended Lea-Lex, Lea and Lex, sialyl Lea, Tn and sialyl Tn varies with density of growth by an invasive human squamous cell lung carcinoma cell line (NU6-1), a benign variant (NE-18) and the human lung epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. The results indicate that one of the factors influencing the apparent expression of mucin-associated oligosaccharides is cell-cell interactions.