Influence on metastasis of the reduction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene with an antisense oligonucleotide.
Cell surface MHC H-2K antigens expressed on various types of B16 melanoma cells of C57BL/6 mouse origin were stained by the avidin-biotinylated enzyme complex (ABC) technique. The low metastatic B16F1 cell line, which demonstrates high levels of H-2K antigen, stained strongly, while the high metastatic B16F10 cell line with no H-2K antigen was not stained. Metastatic colonies which developed in lungs after intravenous (i.v.) injection proved to be negative in both cases. Therefore, in consideration of decreased expression of H-2K antigen in the metastatic process both in vivo and in vitro, antisense oligonucleotides against the class I H-2K gene were transfected into B16F1 cells with H-2K antigens. Subsequent immunohistochemical assessment revealed lack of H-2K antigen expression in the cells, but nevertheless they still could not metastasize to lungs when i.v. injected. This may suggest that any link between the two is not directly causal.