Cell adhesion activity of non-specific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expressed on CHO cell surface: homophilic and heterophilic adhesion.

Cell adhesion activity of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and non-specific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) has been analysed by using CHO cells which had been transfected with cDNAs and are ectopically expressing each antigen on their surface. CEA expressing CHO tended to aggregate easily within 30 min after being suspended by trypsinization. Cell adhesion assay between 51Cr labelled cells and monolayered cells showed both homophilic and heterophilic interaction, the extent of which was CEA-CEA much greater than CEA-NCA greater than NCA-NCA. These reactions were completely inhibited by Fab' fragment of anti-CEA antibody. The results strongly suggested that CEA and NCA function as Ca++ independent cell adhesion molecules by homophilic and heterophilic interactions.