Glycolipids of a human glioma cell line bearing receptors for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).

Glycolipids of U-1242 MG were characterized because results of previous studies showed that exogenous gangliosides, especially GM3, inhibit PDGF-stimulated growth of this human glioma cell line. GM3 and GM2 are the major gangliosides; both separate as doublets with thin-layer chromatography. The major neutral glycolipid is glucocerebroside with nonhydroxy fatty acids, but paragloboside, ceramide dihexoside, globoside, and asialoGM2 (GA2) are also present. The coexistence in U-1242 MG of these gangliosides and the PDGF receptor, whose mitogenic signal is modulated by GM3 in these cells, suggests a possible functional relationship among them with respect to growth regulation.