HISTOLOGY AND HISTOPATHOLOGY

Cellular and Molecular Biology

 

Hyperthermia triggers apoptosis and affects cell adhesiveness in human neuroblastoma cells

F. Luchetti1, B. Canonico2, M. Della Felice2, S. Burattini1, M. Battistelli1, S. Papa1,2 and E. Falcieri1,3

1Istituto di Scienze Morfologiche and 2Centro di Citometria e Citomorfologia, Urbino University, 3Istituto di Trapianti d'Organo e Immunocitologia, CNR e Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy

Offprint requests to: Prof. Elisabetta Falcieri, Istituto di Scienze Morfologiche, Università di Urbino, Campus Scientifico, Località Crocicchia, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy. Fax: 39 722 304242. e-mail: e.falcieri@uniurb.it

 

Summary. Hyperthermia is a known apoptotic inducer and has been recently utilized in combination with chemo-and/or radiotherapy in cancer treatment. In this study we have described its effect on SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma tumor cells, a line which grows as a double adherent and floating population. Considering this particular culture behavior, we also investigated the relationship between hyperthermia and cell adhesiveness by evaluating integrin expression, namely CD11a, which is, as known, closely correlated to cell adhesion properties. By a multiple, ultrastructural and flow cytometrical approach, we have demonstrated that hyperthermia, while triggering apoptosis, also determines a CD11a surface expression decrease in apoptotic and living cells. We thus suggest a further role for this treatment, which, affecting adhesion mechanisms, could down-regulate metastatic diffusion. Histol. Histopathol. 18, 1041-1052 (2003)

Key words: SK-N-MC cell hyperthermia, Apoptosis, Integrins, Ultrastructure, Flow cytometry

DOI: 10.14670/HH-18.1041