Interleukin-4 induces specific pp-GalNAc-T expression and alterations in mucin O-glycosylation in colonic epithelial cells

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2008 Mar;1780(3):577-84. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2007.08.004. Epub 2007 Aug 23.

Abstract

Mucus hypersecretion occurs as a consequence of the Th2 immune response in epithelia, yet it was not previously known whether the degree of O-glycosylation was modulated under such conditions. A colonic carcinoma cell line LS174T was used to assess the effect of interleukin (IL)-4 on the mRNA levels of eight pp-GalNAc-Ts. A three- to four-fold increase in pp-GalNAc-T1, T4, and T7 levels was observed. Lysates of untreated or IL-4-treated cells were examined for their ability to transfer GalNAc residues onto a peptide corresponding to the tandem repeat portion of human MUC2. The number of incorporated GalNAc residues was greater after incubation with lysates of IL-4-treated cells than with lysates of untreated cells. Mucin-like large glycoproteins secreted by IL-4-treated cells had higher binding capacity to PNA and VVA-B(4) than those secreted by untreated cells. The results indicated that IL-4-treated LS174T cells are able to produce mucins with a higher degree of O-glycosylation than untreated counterparts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colon / drug effects*
  • Colon / enzymology*
  • Colon / pathology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Epithelial Cells / enzymology*
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Glycosylation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-4 / pharmacology*
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Lectins / metabolism
  • Molecular Weight
  • Mucins / metabolism*
  • N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases / genetics*
  • N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases / metabolism
  • Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

  • Isoenzymes
  • Lectins
  • Mucins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Interleukin-4
  • N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases