i(3)so3-galactosylceramide and Peripheral-Nervous-System-Neoplasms

Clonal cell line D6P2T, subcloned from an ethylnitrosourea-induced tumor line D6 of the rat peripheral nervous system, has been characterized with particular attention to galactolipid metabolism. Galactosylcerebroside and sulfatide synthesis and expression on the cell surface are highly regulated in D6P2T cells by mechanisms involving serum- and cyclic AMP-mediated pathways. These cells also express 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (Wolfgram protein W1a) and laminin. In contrast, myelin basic protein and antigen HNK-1 were not detected. Line D6P2T appears to be a semi-differentiated Schwann cell model, which offers interesting possibilities for studies of galactolipid synthesis, transport, and sorting.

Topics: 2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase; 2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases; Animals; Bucladesine; Cell Membrane; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Galactolipids; Galactose; Galactosylceramides; Glycolipids; Immunoassay; Laminin; Neurilemmoma; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; Rats; Schwann Cells; Sulfates; Sulfoglycosphingolipids; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Experimental rat neural tumors in offspring were induced transplacentally by a single injection of a chemical carcinogen, ethylnitrosourea, 20 mg/kg body weight, in the tail vein of the mother. The neutral glycosphingolipid, sulfatide, and ceramide composition of the tumors and the normal tissues from which the tumors originated is described. The content of nonhydroxy fatty acid (NFA) and hydroxy fatty acid (HFA) containing ceramide in all the neural tumors so far examined was significantly increased compared with the corresponding normal neural tissue. Some 8 to 18 mol% of total neutral glycolipids was as ceramide in neurinomas, oligodendrogliomas, and meningiomas. Lactosylceramide in normal neural tissues was about 1 mol% of the total neutral glycosphingolipids. In various neural tumors lactosylceramide increased up to 8 mol%. NFA- and HFA-containing cerebrosides constitute 94-100% of the neutral glycosphingolipids in normal neural tissues. In various neural tumors the mol percent of cerebrosides was significantly reduced. A high performance liquid chromatographic method was modified to analyze simultaneously ceramides, cerebrosides, and higher neutral glycosphingolipids.

Topics: 2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases; Animals; Astrocytoma; Brain Neoplasms; Ceramides; Ependymoma; Glioma; Glycosphingolipids; Mass Spectrometry; Neoplasms, Experimental; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms; Rats; Sulfoglycosphingolipids