Aim: To investigate the expression of CD112 the ligand of CD226 (NK cell activating receptor) in colon carcinoma tissues and cell lines. To analyze the relationship between the expression and clinical significance.
Methods: the expression of CD112 was detected in 90 colon carcinoma and 30 normal colon tissues by immunohistochemistry. To detect the expressions of CD112 in colon carcinoma cell lines (Colo205, SW116, and SW480) by flow cytometry (FCM).
Results: The positive rates of CD112 expressed in colon carcinoma cell lines (Colo205, SW116, and SW480) were 99.3%, 47.1%, and 98.7%, respectively. The CD112 positive rates in colon carcinoma group and control group were 42.35% and 10%. There was significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.001). The rates of CD112 expression have no significant differences in various tumor tissues at different differentiation degrees and Duke's stages (P = 0.997, P = 0.777). There were no correlations between CD112 positive expression intensity and tumor differentiation degrees as well as Dukes stages (r = - 0.006, r = - 0.032).
Conclusion: The CD112 is highly expressed in colon carcinoma tissues and cell lines. Our finding indicates that combination of CD112 with CD226 (NK cell activating receptors) could enhance the NK cell mediated tumor killing effects, thus providing a new immunotherapeutic method for colon cancer therapy.