Interleukin-3-associated expression of gangliosides in mouse myelogenous leukemia NFS60 cells introduced with interleukin-3 gene: expression of ganglioside GD1a and key involvement of CMP-NeuAc:lactosylceramide alpha 2-->3-sialyltransferase in GD1a expression.

Murine interleukin-3 (IL-3)-associated expression of gangliosides has been investigated using a gene transfection technique. A murine IL-3 cDNA was introduced into the parental NFS60-17 cells that was exclusively dependent on IL-3. We analyzed the glycosphingolipids from the parental cells and the transfected cells by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry analyses and/or immunostaining techniques using specific antibodies. Two major gangliosides, IV3NeuAc-GgOse4Cer (GM1b) and IV3-NeuAc,III6NeuAc-GgOse4Cer (GD1 alpha), were expressed, in the parental cells. By contrast, in the IL-3 gene-transfected cells, a ganglioside IV3NeuAc,II3NeuAc-GgOse4Cer (GD1a) was strikingly expressed, in addition to GM1b and GD1 alpha that were already present in the parental cells. In spite of various IL-3-secreting capabilities, all transfectants investigated have exhibited the same ganglioside patterns and expressed GD1a. Furthermore, the appearance of GD1a was a consequence of the up-regulation of a single glycosyltransferase, CMP-NeuAc:lactosylceramide alpha 2-->3-sialytransferase (GM3 synthase). Activities of the other downstream glycosyltransferases that were involved in GD1a synthesis were not significantly different between the parental and the transfected cells. According to these data, the progression of tumor stage by the acquisition of autonomous cell growth ability after IL-3 gene transfection resulted in dramatic changes in cell surface gangliosides and their biosynthetic pathways. GD1a could be considered as an IL-3-associated ganglioside and was expressed in a tight connection with a single glycosyltransferase (GM3 synthase) up-regulation and with IL-3 expression in murine myelogenous leukemia cells.