N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V activity in metastatic models of human hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice

N-linked beta 1-6 branched oligosaccharides may contribute directly to the malignant phenotype including metastatic potential of tumour cells. Increas ed beta 1-6 branching was associated with an increased level of N-acetylglu cosaminyltransferase V (GnT V). In this report, the tissues from two metast atic models of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in nude mice were obtai ned. GnT V activity and mRNA level were determined. Results showed that GnT V activity in highly metastatic LCI-D20 models (Liver Cancer Institute, pa ssage time: 20 days) (413.1 +/- 86.4U) was much higher than that in low met astatic LCI-D35 model (passage time 35 days) (155.3 +/- 31.9U). Northern bl ot showed that the mRNA level of GnT V in two models had no change. During the selection of a highly metastatic LCI-D20 model, GnT V activity increase d from 301.6 +/- 57.3U to 413.1 +/- 86.4U while the highly metastatic LCI-D 20 model acquired higher metastatic ability after selection. When highly me tastatic LCI-D20 model tissues were implanted subcutaneously (s.c.), the Gn T V activity decreased dramatically from 413.1 +/- 86.4U to 94.9U, This is the first report that GnT V activity increased in HCC during metastasis in vivo.