Junctions between Cancer Cells in Culture: Ultrastructure and Permeability

Johnson, Ross G.; Sheridan, Judson D.

doi:10.1126/science.174.4010.717

Cited by 146 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…This strongly supports the hypothesis that intercellular communication plays an important role in cell growth and differentiation [33,64]. Although cancer cells often lose or decrease their capacity to communicate with homologous cells [33], it is also true that many cancerous and tumorigenic cells have a capacity to communicate with homologous cells [1,13,25]. It was recently pointed out that the lack of communication between cancerous and surrounding normal cells may be more important than their communication with homologous cells [13,64].…”

Section: Regulation Of Cell Communication and Cell Growthsupporting

confidence: 71%

Modulation of cell communication and carcinogenesis.

Kanno

1985

Jpn.J.Physiol

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In many types of tissue and culture cells, the interiors of adjacent cells communicate with each other through cell-to-cell channels. The fine structure of the cell-to-cell channel has been well studied and defined as a gap junction which consists of six identical, rod-shaped protein subunits [59]. This transmembrane channel permits free exchange of ions and small molecules between contacting cells [53]. This type of interaction between cells has been called "gap junctionalThis communication is readily proved by three different methods : electrophysiological, fluorescent dye transfer and metabolic cooperation methods [33].Cell communication has been thought to be regulated by the concentration of intracellular Ca2+ [45,46] and CAMP [17]. Calcium ion produces graded changes in cell communication [47]. cAMP modulates cell communication by stimulating the de novo synthesis of gap junctional protein [17].Since extensive reviews on the general properties of the gap junction and its physiological role have appeared in recent years [33,34], this short review will deal with a limited topic, namely, recent studies on the physiological role of gap junctional cell communication in the phenotypic manifestation of cancer. I. CELL COMMUNICATION IN CANCER CELLSInvestigation of cell communication in cancer cells was first made in rat liver tumors including primary, Morris and Novikoff hepatomas by electrophysiological methods [35]. Subsequently, similar studies were performed in transplanted rat and hamster thyroid tumors [24] and human stomach carcinoma [28]. These earlier studies showed a lack or a decrease of cell communication between contacting cancer cells, indicating the predominance of communication-incompetent cells in malignant tumors. A solid tumor, which was developed by transplantation of MH 134 cells into the subcutaneous space of C3H/He mice showed a decreased level of communication as revealed by electrical coupling. The decrease of cell communication appeared to correlate with the characteristics of metastasis in the case of MH 134 cells [23]. In benign tumors, such as human follicular adenoma, human diffuse toxic goiter and nontoxic nodular goiter, con-

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Section: Regulation Of Cell Communication and Cell Growthsupporting

confidence: 71%

Modulation of cell communication and carcinogenesis.

Kanno

1985

Jpn.J.Physiol

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“…Since cells of different species display naturally occurring differences in resistance to ouabain, there is no need to select resistant mutants unless one wishes to measure cooperation between cells of the same species. Although we have limited this investigation to cells growing in monolayer, there is no reason why the method could not be extended to ceils normally growing as single cells or aggregates in suspension, which have been shown to form communicating junctions (19,22,32).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Interference of anRb+ with this determination was avoided by extraction of the bulk of the a~Rb+ with TCA, and the use of a double-label scintillation counting procedure (22). Index of cooperation was calculated using the equation given in Table I but with values for [SH]leucine incorporation/ /zg protein used as the elements.…”

Section: Donor Cells Can Restore Protein Synthesis In Recipient Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transfer of potassium. A new measure of cell-cell coupling.

Ledbetter¹,

Lubin²

1979

The Journal of Cell Biology

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Mammalian cells of different species differ in sensitivity to ouabain. This sensitivity is expressed as reduced intracellular K + content, reduced rates of protein synthesis, and cessation of cell multiplication. Using 86Rb+ as a measure of intracellular K +, we found higher levels of radioactivity in mixtures of ouabainsensitive and -resistant cells cultured in the presence of ouabain than predicted from pure cultures of the two component cell types. The simplest explanation is that K + and ~Rb + are being transferred from ouabain-resistant to ouabainsensitive cells, enhancing the total intracellular ~Rb + in the culture. A function,

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“…However, combined fine-structural and electrophysiological studies on the crayfish segmental axon presented compelling evidence that the gap junction is the site of low-resistance coupling (2,5,(52)(53)(54)(55). Other workers (28,36,64) have also found gap junctions and ionic coupling coexisting in cell cultures, affording further solid support for this association.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Assembly of Gap Junctions During Amphibian Neurulation

Decker

Friend

1974

The Journal of Cell Biology

242

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Sequential thin-section, tracer (K-pyroantimonate, lanthanum, ruthenium red, and horseradish peroxidase), and freeze-fracture studies were conducted on embryos and larvae of Rana pipiens to determine the steps involved in gap junction assembly during neurulation. The zonulae occludentes, which join contiguous neuroepithelial cells, fragment into solitary domains as the neural groove deepens. These plaque-like contacts also become permeable to a variety of tracers at this juncture. Where the ridges of these domains intersect, numerous 85-A participles apparently pile up against tight junctional remnants, creating arrays recognizable as gap junctions. With neural fold closure, the remaining tight junctional elements disappear and are replaced by macular gap junctions. Well below the junctional complex, gap junctions form independent of any visible, preexisting structure. Small, variegated clusters, containing 4-30 particles located in flat, particle-free regions, characterize this area. The number of particles within these arrays increases and they subsequently blend together into a polygonally packed aggregate resembling a gap junction. The assembly process in both apical and basal regions conforms with the concept of translational movement of particles within a fluid plasma membrane.

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Junctions between Cancer Cells in Culture: Ultrastructure and Permeability

Cited by 146 publications

References 25 publications

Modulation of cell communication and carcinogenesis.

Modulation of cell communication and carcinogenesis.

Transfer of potassium. A new measure of cell-cell coupling.

Assembly of Gap Junctions During Amphibian Neurulation

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