Retinoic acid and methotrexate specifically increase PHA-E-lectin binding to a 67-kDA glycoprotein in LA-N-1 human neuroblastoma cells

Retinoic acid (RA) decreased growth and increased morphologic differentiation of human neuroblastoma LA-N-1 cells. These phenomena correlated with a specific enhancement of PHA-E lectin binging to a glycoprotein of MW 67 kDa (gp67). Gp67 was found susceptible to N-glycanase and displayed BSA binding by affinity chromatography analysis. The chemotherapeutic agent methotrexate (MTX) also reduced growth and induce differentiation of LA-N-1 cells. In addition, the cells responded to MTX as well as to doxorubicin by a marked increase in PHA-E binding to gp67. We conclude that reduced growth and induction of morphological differentiation of LA-N-1 cells correlated with increased binding of PHA-E to gp67. © 1995 Wiley-Liss Inc.