Heterogeneity of aberrant immunoglobulin expression in cancer cells

Accumulating evidence has shown that immunoglobulin (Ig) is 'unexpectedly' expressed by epithelial cancer cells and that it can promote tumor growth. The main purpose of this study was to explore the components of the cancerous Ig and its possible function. The presence of cancerous Ig in the Golgi apparatus was confirmed by immunofluorescence, indirectly suggesting that the cancerous Ig was processed and packaged in cancer cells. Western blot analysis and ELISA results indicated that cancer cells produced membrane Ig and secreted Ig into the supernatant fraction. The cancerous Ig consists of an alpha heavy chain and a kappa light chain. Finally, by analyzing the Ig components pulled down by protein A beads, the cancerous Ig was found to be structurally distinct from normal Ig. The cancerous Ig was truncated or aberrant. Although the underlying mechanism that causes the abnormalities has not been determined, our current discoveries strengthen our previous findings and promise fruitful future explorations. Cellular & Molecular Immunology (2011) 8, 479-485; doi: 10.1038/cmi.2011.25; published online 22 August 2011