Subtypes of melanocytes and melanoma cells distinguished by their intercellular contacts: heterotypic adherens junctions, adhesive associations, and dispersed desmoglein 2 glycoproteins.
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Subtypes of melanocytes and melanoma cells distinguished by their intercellular contacts: heterotypic adherens junctions, adhesive associations, and dispersed desmoglein 2 glycoproteins. / Rickelt, Steffen; Franke, Werner W; Doerflinger, Yvette; Goerdt, Sergij; Brandner, Johanna; Peitsch, Wiebke K.
In: CELL TISSUE RES, Vol. 334, No. 3, 3, 2008, p. 401-422.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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T1 - Subtypes of melanocytes and melanoma cells distinguished by their intercellular contacts: heterotypic adherens junctions, adhesive associations, and dispersed desmoglein 2 glycoproteins.
AU - Rickelt, Steffen
AU - Franke, Werner W
AU - Doerflinger, Yvette
AU - Goerdt, Sergij
AU - Brandner, Johanna
AU - Peitsch, Wiebke K
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - In the tissue integration of melanocytes and melanoma cells, an important role is attributed to cell adhesion molecules, notably the cadherins. In cultured melanoma cells, we have previously described a more heterogeneous repertoire of cadherins than normal, including some melanoma subtypes synthesizing the desmosomal cadherin, desmoglein 2, out of the desmosomal context. Using biochemical and immunological characterization of junctional molecules, confocal laser scanning, and electron and immunoelectron microscopy, we now demonstrate homo- and heterotypic cell-cell adhesions of normal epidermal melanocytes. In human epidermis, both in situ and in cell culture, melanocytes and keratinocytes are connected by closely aligned membranes that are interspersed by small puncta adhaerentia containing heterotypic complexes of E- and P-cadherin. Moreover, melanocytes growing in culture often begin to synthesize desmoglein 2, which is dispersed over extended areas of intimate adhesive cell-cell associations. As desmoglein 2 is not found in melanocytes in situ, we hypothesize that its synthesis is correlated with cell proliferation. Indeed, in tissue microarrays, desmoglein 2 has been demonstrated in a sizable subset of nevi and primary melanomas. The biological meanings of these cell-cell adhesion molecule arrangements, the possible diagnostic and prognostic significance of these findings, and the implications of the heterogeneity types of melanomas are discussed.
AB - In the tissue integration of melanocytes and melanoma cells, an important role is attributed to cell adhesion molecules, notably the cadherins. In cultured melanoma cells, we have previously described a more heterogeneous repertoire of cadherins than normal, including some melanoma subtypes synthesizing the desmosomal cadherin, desmoglein 2, out of the desmosomal context. Using biochemical and immunological characterization of junctional molecules, confocal laser scanning, and electron and immunoelectron microscopy, we now demonstrate homo- and heterotypic cell-cell adhesions of normal epidermal melanocytes. In human epidermis, both in situ and in cell culture, melanocytes and keratinocytes are connected by closely aligned membranes that are interspersed by small puncta adhaerentia containing heterotypic complexes of E- and P-cadherin. Moreover, melanocytes growing in culture often begin to synthesize desmoglein 2, which is dispersed over extended areas of intimate adhesive cell-cell associations. As desmoglein 2 is not found in melanocytes in situ, we hypothesize that its synthesis is correlated with cell proliferation. Indeed, in tissue microarrays, desmoglein 2 has been demonstrated in a sizable subset of nevi and primary melanomas. The biological meanings of these cell-cell adhesion molecule arrangements, the possible diagnostic and prognostic significance of these findings, and the implications of the heterogeneity types of melanomas are discussed.
M3 - SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz
VL - 334
SP - 401
EP - 422
JO - CELL TISSUE RES
JF - CELL TISSUE RES
SN - 0302-766X
IS - 3
M1 - 3
ER -