Expression of the endogenous, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligand, SLURP-1, in human colon cancer.

• 1. Secreted mammalian Ly-6/urokinase plasminogen activator receptor-related protein-1 (SLURP-1) is a recently discovered endogenous ligand at the alpha7 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Previous reports have shown that SLURP-1 is expressed in normal human keratinocytes seemingly with a pro-apoptotic function. Conversely, such expression was markedly attenuated in transformed cells and it was suggested that the molecule could convey protection against malignant transformation. 2. In this study, we demonstrated the mRNA expression (by RT-PCR) and protein expression (by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry) of SLURP-1 in the human colon cancer cell line, HT-29. 3. Furthermore, we demonstrated the expression of SLURP-1 (by immunohistochemistry) in tumour cells of human colon cancer tissue, and, to a greater extent, in immune and smooth muscle cells of adjacent, macroscopically tumour-free colon tissue. 4. The current findings suggest that SLURP-1 participates in the regulation of gut immune functions and motility, as well as possibly playing a role in colon carcinogenesis/cancer progression.

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Biomedicinsk vetenskap

Biomedical Sciences

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