Neutrophil interactions with sialyl Lewis X on human nonsmall cell lung carcinoma cells regulate invasive behavior

摘要

The carbohydrate sialyl Lewis X (sLeX) is expressed on leukocytes and carcinoma cells and binds to selectins during inflammatory processes and early metastasis. Synthesis of sLeX depends on activity of enzymes, including (1,3/1,4) fucosyltransferase (FucT-III). Tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) up-regulates FucT-III, resulting in increased sLeX in the airways of patients with respiratory disease; however, the mechanisms that regulate sLeX in the inflammatory tumor microenvironment are not well understood.