Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Syncytin is involved in breast cancer-endothelial cell fusions

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences CMLS Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

Cancer cells can fuse spontaneously with normal host cells, including endothelial cells, and such fusions may strongly modulate the biological behaviour of tumors. However, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We now show that human breast cancer cell lines and 63 out of 165 (38%) breast cancer specimens express syncytin, an endogenous retroviral envelope protein, previously implicated in fusions between placental trophoblast cells. Additionally, endothelial and cancer cells are shown to express ASCT-2, a receptor for syncytin. Syncytin antisense treatment decreases syncytin expression and inhibits fusions between breast cancer cells and endothelial cells. Moreover, a syncytin inhibitory peptide also inhibits fusions between cancer and endothelial cells. These results are the first to show that syncytin is expressed by human cancer cells and is involved in cancer-endothelial cell fusions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. -I. Larsson.

Additional information

Received 2 May 2006; received after revision 7 June 2006; accepted 12 June 2006

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bjerregaard, B., Holck, S., Christensen, I.J. et al. Syncytin is involved in breast cancer-endothelial cell fusions. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 63, 1906–1911 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-006-6201-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-006-6201-9

Keywords.

Navigation