Demonstration and characterization of CD 46, membrane cofactor protein, in gastric cancer tissue

CD 46, membrane cofactor protein, is a membrane protein which shows different expression and phenotypes with the organ or cell in the same individual. Previously, we reported that gastric CD 46 was expressed strongly in the mucosal epithelium, mucosa and endothelial cells of vessels in the submucosal layer. Western blot analysis revealed that gastric CD 46 was expressed as one broad band with a molecular weight ranging from 60 kDa to 69 kDa, which was different from that of lymphocytes. In this study, we investigated the differences in expression and characterization of CD 46 in gastric cancer obtained by surgery as compared with non-cancerous mucosa. Expression of CD 46 was greater in gastric cancer than in non-cancerous mucosa. In some cases, the phenotypes of CD 46 in gastric cancer were different from those in the non-cancerous tissue.