Comparison of Glycolipids in Various Human Leukemia Cells

Abstract

Glycolipids from human leukemia cells were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography, enzymatic hydrolysis and high-performance thin-layer chromatography with immunostaining by the use of mouse monoclonal antibody. Glucosylceramide, lactosylceramide, and ganglioside GM3 were found in various leukemia cases. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells contained little or none of the glycolipids with lacto-series structures such as neolactotetraosylceramide (nLc4Cer), NeuAcα2-3Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4Glcβ1-Cer, or NeuAcα2-6Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4Glcβ1-Cer (IV⁶NeuAc-nLc4Cer), which were found in every case of various myeloid leukemias. GM3 was a major ganglioside (45-100%) in acute leukemia cells, whereas IV⁶NeuAc-nLc4Cer was a major one (37%) in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells.