OBJECTIVETo study the effect of inhibition of 6A8 alpha-mannosidase expression on adhesiveness among and E-cadherin expression on CNE-2L2 cells, and on metastasis of the tumors from the cells inoculated in nude mice.

METHODSAnchorage-independent adhesion among cells was examined in soft agar culture. E-cadherin expression was studied by immunofluorescence staining, immunohistological staining and RT-PCR. CNE-2L2 cells were subcutaneously inoculated into nude mice. Eight weeks later tumor metastasis was demonstrated by means of histological examination of lung sections.

RESULTSCNE-2L2 cells with suppression of 6A8 alpha-mannosidase expression (AS) became aggregated. E-cadherin expression on wild type cells was very weak. In contrast, it was greatly enhanced on AS cells. The enhancement was detected on both protein and mRNA levels. Lung metastasis of the tumor from inoculated AS cells were heavily inhibited in nude mice.

CONCLUSIONInhibition of 6A8 alpha-mannosidase expression results in enhancement of cell-cell adhesion and of E-cadherin expression on CNE-2L2 cells. Lung metastasis of the tumor grown from AS cell inoculate in nude mice is heavily suppressed.