Modulation of EGF receptor and CD15 (Lewisx) antigen on the cell surface of breast carcinoma cell lines induced by cytokines, retinoic acid, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate and 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3.

Interleukin (IL) 1 alpha induced the up-regulation of cell-surfac-expressed epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor on both MDA-MB-468 and BT-20 breast cancer cell lines. IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) increased the EGF receptor surface expression only on BT-20 breast carcinoma cells. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) induced up-regulation of EGF receptor on MDA-MB-468 cells, and a marginal but significant increase was determined in BT-20 cells and in interferon gamma (IFN-gamma)-treated MDA-MB-468 cells. CD15 (Lewisx) antigen was down-regulated on MDA-MB-468 cells by TNF-alpha, TPA, IL-1 alpha, as well as by IFN-gamma and all-trans-retinoic acid. 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3 up-regulated the CD15 antigen surface expression on MDA-MB-468 cells.