Expression of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in human biliary cancer cells.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Amphoterin is considered as a regulator for the ability of invasion and migration in tumor cells and embryonic neurons through binding to RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products), a mult-iligand cell surface molecule of the immunoglobulin superfamily. METHODOLOGY: To see the involvement of RAGE in biliary cancer, three representative human biliary cancer cells (SK-ChA-1, TGBC-1 and NOZC-1) were rendered for the study. Cell invasion ability was determined using Matrigel invasion assay. The expression of RAGE protein was studied by Western blotting. RESULTS: Cell invasion assay through Matrigel showed high invasion potential in SK-ChA-1 and NOZC-1 (40.3 +/- 3.27, 48.7 +/- 4.8); low invasion potential in TGBC-1 (25.7 +/- 2.8). RAGE was strongly expressed in SK-ChA-1 and NOZC-1 that have high invasion ability. On the contrary, RAGE was faintly expressed in TGBC-1 that has low ability. CONCLUSIONS: RAGE is expressed in concordance to the invasion ability of the human biliary cancer cells. Control of this molecule could be a key to regulate the invasion ability of biliary cancers.