Lack of evidence for an immunosuppressive role for MUC1.

• The in vitro anti-proliferative properties of various supernatants from MUC1-expressing cell lines and of purified preparations of MUC1 were evaluated. We have observed that supernatants from the MUC1-and MUC3-positive cell line T47D, but not from the MUC1- and MUC4-positive cell line MCF7, were able to inhibit proliferation of cells from various haematopoietic cell lines. Although the activity of T47D supernatants could be abrogated by immunodepletion of MUC1, immunopurified MUC1 from T47D was unable to inhibit cell proliferation. Significantly, supernatants from mouse 3T3 cells transfected with a secreted form of MUC1 or from BHK-21 cells infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus coding for the secreted form of MUC1, as well as preparations of purified MUC1 from bile or urine, were likewise unable to inhibit T cell proliferation. Surprisingly, a crude mixture of bile mucins had a suppressive effect on T cell growth. Our results suggest that other molecules, such as amino sugars or other mucins, which can associate with MUC1, are likely to be responsible for the observed anti-proliferative effects of T47D cells.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinsk bioteknologi -- Medicinsk bioteknologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Medical Biotechnology -- Medical Biotechnology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

3T3 Cells

immunology

metabolism

Amino Acid Sequence

Animals

Breast Neoplasms

immunology

metabolism

HL-60 Cells

immunology

metabolism

Hela Cells

Humans

Immunosuppressive Agents

isolation & purification

pharmacology

urine

Jurkat Cells

immunology

metabolism

Lymphocyte Activation

immunology

Mice

Mice

Inbred BALB C

Molecular Sequence Data

Mucin-1

immunology

isolation & purification

urine

T-Lymphocytes

immunology

Tumor Cells

Cultured

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)