Expression of the co-stimulatory molecule CD40 on melanoma cells

✍ Scribed by Wayne D. Thomas; Melanie J. Smith; Zhaoyi Si; Peter Hersey

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: French
• Weight: 786 KB
• Volume: 68
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0020-7136
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(19961211)68:6<795::aid-ijc18>3.0.co;2-#

✦ Synopsis

We have previously shown that one of the co-factors required for generation of T-cell responses, 87. I, is variably expressed on melanoma cells. In the present studies we have examined the expression of another important co-factor in T-cell responses, viz., CD40, and investigated regulation of its expression and possible function(s). PCR analysis revealed mRNA for CD40 in all I8 cell lines established from metastatic melanoma and the majority of those from 6 primary melanoma. CD40 protein was detectable in approximately 50% of the cell lines by flow cytometry and in sections from only 2 of 20 melanoma. Expression of CD40 protein was increased in 2 of 3 cell lines with constitutive CD40 expression by interferon? but not by ganulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-2 or tumor necrosis factor-Interaction of monoclonal antibody with CD40 on melanoma cells resulted in an increase in their cell division but did not increase expression of the costimulatory factor 87. Our results suggest that CWO expression on melanoma may have important effects on their biology. The influence of CD40 expression on T-cell responses to melanoma remains to be investigated.