Alteration of ganglioside composition and metabolism in doxorubicin-resistant rat tumoral cells

We have investigated the ganglioside levels, composition and metabolism in two lines of doxorubicin-resistant cells and in the corresponding wild strains, the C6 rat glioblastoma and the HTC rat hepatoma. The only ganglioside present was GM3, and its level was increased 2-fold in C6 resistant cells and decreased nearly 2-fold in HTC resistant cells. A decrease of cytidine 5'-monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid:galactosylglucosylceramide sialyltransferase activity was observed in both resistant lines as compared to sensitive ones, and could not, therefore, explain the increase in the GM3 level observed in the C6 resistant line. Alterations of acid neuraminidase activity were also observed; a 5-fold decrease was noticed in the C6 resistant line and could account for the increase in the GM3 level observed in these cells; in contrast, a 2-fold increase of acid neuraminidase activity was noticed in the HTC resistant cells: together, with reduced synthesis, it could explain the decrease in the GM3 level observed in these cells. No alterations of exogenous ganglioside transport was exhibited by the C6 resistant cells.