EXPRESSION OF AIRWAY SECRETORY EPITHELIAL FUNCTIONS BY LUNG-CARCINOMACELLS

We examined 12 non-small cell lung carcinoma cell lines for expression of airway goblet, serous, and mucous cell characteristics. The cells expressed some ultrastructural traits of secretory epithelial cells bu t none contained secretory granules typical of the airway secretory ce lls. Using immunocytochemistry and cell-specific monoclonal antibodies , we identified heterogeneous expression of goblet, mucous. and serous cell markers among the cell lines. After metabolic radiolabeling, cel ls incorporated isotope into high molecular weight material. Incubatio n of pulse-radiolabeled cells with a number of known mucus secretogogu es revealed that 5 of the 12 cell lines released radiolabeled material in response to the agonists. However in each cell line only one of th e receptor-activated pathways tested was intact. Although we did not i dentify a single cell line expressing a phenotype similar to normal ai rway secretory cells, particular functions retained by some of these c ell lines may make them useful for specific studies of mucus productio n or secretion.