Laminin and fibronectin promote the haptotactic migration of B16 mouse melanoma cells in vitro

Human peri-tumoral and lung fibroblasts produce paracrine motility factors for recently established human sarcoma cell strains

Paracrine motogenic cytokines secreted by normal cells can stimulate metastatic cell invasion. For example, human fibroblasts secrete hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), which stimulates paracrine migration of epithelial and certain carcinoma cells, and migration-stimulating factor (MSF), which stimulates autocrine migration of fibroblasts from certain breast carcinomas. We found that human peri-tumoral and lung fibroblasts secrete motility-stimulating activity for several recently established human sarcoma cell strains. Motility of lung metastasis-derived SYN-I sarcoma cells was preferentially stimulated by human lung and peri-tumoral fibroblast motility-stimulating factors (FMSFs). FMSFs were non-dialyzable, susceptible to trypsin and sensitive to dithiothreitol. Cycloheximide inhibited accumulation of FMSF activity in conditioned medium; however, addition of cycloheximide to the migration assay did not significantly affect motility-stimulating activity. Purified HGF/SF, rabbit anti-hHGF and RT-PCR analysis of peri-tumoral and lung fibroblast HGF/SF mRNA expression indicated that FMSF activity was unrelated to HGF/SF. Partial purification of FMSF by gel exclusion chromatography revealed several peaks of activity, suggesting multiple FMSF molecules or complexes. Since human soft tissue sarcomas have a distinctive hematogenous metastatic pattern (predominantly lung), FMSF may play a role in this process independent of HGF/SF.

Tumor cell attachment to laminin promotes degradation of the extracellular matrix and cell migration in high-metastatic clone cells of RCT sarcoma in vitro

We investigated the roles of extracellular matrix proteins, laminin and fibronectin, in promoting invasiveness through the extracellular matrix in high-metastatic [RCT(+)] clone cells established from poorly differentiated murine RCT sarcoma in C3H/He mice. Laminin stimulated the type IV collagenolytic activity of RCT(+) cells. After more than 6 h of incubation, the type IV collagenolysis of the cell-conditioned medium was significantly higher in laminin-treated groups compared with the control. The migration activity of RCT(+) cells was stimulated by laminin. However, fibronectin did not influence the type IV collagenolysis or cell migration in this clone cell. The amino acid sequence YIGSR, which is derived from laminin, inhibited the laminin-mediated cell attachment and the laminin-promoted type IV collagenolysis, as well as cell migration of RCT(+) cells. RGD derived from fibronectin did not influence the cell attachment to laminin or Matrigel in this clone. In the invasion assay employing a Matrigel coated filter in a Boyden chamber, YIGSR showed greater inhibition of invasion through the Matrigel than did RGD with RCT(+) cells. YIGSR might inhibit the promoted-matrix degradation and cell migration in response to the cell attachment to laminin by competing with laminin for binding to cell surface laminin receptor. We suggest that laminin-mediated cell attachment to the extracellular matrix may play a role in promoting the matrix degradation and cell migration during metastatic cascades.

Stimulation and regulation of tumor cell motility in invasion and metastasis

In this review, the role of extracellular factors in the stimulation and regulation of tumor cell motility are discussed. Tumor cells respond in a motile fashion to a variety of external ligands including autocrine motility factors, growth factors, and components of the extracellular matrix. Since tumor cell motility is a necessary component of tumor invasion and metastasis, we speculate that these protein factors could play important regulatory roles in tumor motility at different stages of the metastatic cascade.

Extracellular matrix proteins inhibit proliferation, upregulate migration and induce morphological changes in human glioma cell lines

The influence of an artificial basement membrane (BM), Matrigel, and four individual extracellular matrix proteins, fibronectin, laminin, collagen I and vitronectin, on cell proliferation, morphology and migration was assessed in four glioma cell lines. Matrigel and individual BM proteins differentially inhibited cell proliferation of all cell lines studied. In addition, Matrigel was found to induce extensive morphological changes in glioma cells. Polycarbonate filters, of 8-microns porosity in modified Boyden chambers, were used to assess the chemoattraction activity of Matrigel and the individual proteins on glioma cells. All these components were found to stimulate cell migration, albeit to different extents but laminin proved to be the most effective chemoattractant for glioma cells in vitro. These data suggest that basement membrane proteins may inhibit proliferation and stimulate migration in order to facilitate invasion.

LFA-1 integrin redistribution during T-cell hybridoma invasion of hepatocyte cultures and manganese-induced adhesion to ICAM-1

We have reported previously that the integrin LFA-1 is essential for metastasis of T-cell hybridomas to the liver. We show here that hepatocytes isolated from normal non-inflamed rat liver express intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) at the dorsal surface and more prominently at the lateral and substratum-adherent surfaces. Anti-rat ICAM-1 mAb inhibited adhesion of TAM8C4 T-cell hybridoma cells to hepatocytes. Invasion between hepatocytes was not affected, but this is probably due to lack of penetration of the mAb between the hepatocytes. In all hepatocyte-adherent TAM8C4 cells, LFA-1 was concentrated at the adhesion site. Redistribution of ICAM-1 to the interacting hepatocyte membrane was also seen, but only for part of the adherent TAM8C4 cells. LFA-1 was highly concentrated on pseudopods of invading TAM8C4 cells inserted between hepatocytes, and on the upper surface of invaded TAM8C4 cells located under the hepatocytes. ICAM-1 was concentrated in the hepatocyte membrane overlying TAM8C4 cells located underneath the monolayer. These results suggests that ICAM-1 is of major importance for liver invasion by these lymphoma cells. For optimal adhesion to ICAM-1, LFA-1 on T-cell hybridomas requires activation, which apparently occurs upon contact with cell layers that are invaded (G. La Riviere et al., J. Cell Sci. 107, 551–559, 1994). LFA-1 can be activated artificially by Mn2+. To study LFA-1 redistribution upon ICAM-1 interaction with higher resolution, we performed immuno-EM on cells before and after Mn(2+)-induced adhesion and spreading on immobilized ICAM-1. By immune fluorescence, LFA-1 was observed to redistribute to the ICAM-1-adherent surface, and to be concentrated in lamellipodia of spreading TAM8C4 cells. By immuno-EM, LFA-1 was localized in microclusters of approximately 10 gold particles. This was seen in cells fixed in suspension, and the size of these clusters did not change upon adhesion to ICAM-1. LFA-1 was present at high density in thin filopodia, but again in microclusters of similar size. Comparable results were obtained with a cytotoxic T-cell clone. We conclude that Mn(2+)-induced activation of LFA-1 is not associated with the formation or enlargement of LFA-1 clusters.

Cell-substrate adhesion and metastatic potential of cultured mesothelioma cells induced by asbestos

Cell-substrate adhesion was quantified for two cultured mesothelioma cell lines (epitheliomatous and sarcomatous) on glass, fibronectin and laminin substrates. Interference reflection microscopy (IRM) was used to image the adhesion patterns of cells and a grey level analysis was employed to quantify adhesion. Sarcomatous cells demonstrated marked adhesion to glass and fibronectin-coated substrates but not to laminin-coated substrate, with the greatest adhesion occurring on the fibronectin-coated surface. This adhesion was accompanied by cytoplasmic spreading. By contrast, epitheliomatous cells showed little tendency to adhere to any of the substrates and only showed significant spreading when in contact with the laminin substrate (P < 0.01). A bioassay was used to determine the metastatic potential of each of the cell lines. Via the intravenous route, the sarcomatous cells killed the host rats in 24.7 +/- 1.5 (S.D.) days compared to 27.3 +/- 0.9 (S.D.) days for the epitheliomatous cells (P < 0.01). After subcutaneous inoculation of tumour cells, the sarcomatous cells killed the host rats in 54.7 +/- 0.7 (S.D.) days compared to 48.5 +/- 0.5 (S.D.) days for the epitheliomatous cells (P < 0.01). We conclude that the results of the metastasis bioassays were consistent with the predicted behavior of these cell lines based on their ability to adhere to substrates in the in vitro adhesion assays.

The promotion of invasion through the basement membrane of cervical carcinoma cells by fibronectin as a chemoattractant

An in vitro migration and invasion assay was used as the model system to study the effect of 3T3 fibroblast conditioned medium (FCM) and purified human fibronectin on the invasion of cervical carcinoma cells. The 3T3 FCM significantly enhanced both the migration and the invasion of a cervical carcinoma cell line, HeLa. This enhancement of migration and invasion was inhibited by anti-fibronectin antibody. Purified fibronectin alone enhanced the invasion in a dose-dependent manner for all cervical carcinoma cell lines, HeLa, CAC-1 and TMCC. The pretreatment of cells with cell binding aminosequences, GRGDSP and/or YIGSR blocked the enhancement of cell invasion. The implication of these findings for the invasion of cervical carcinoma is discussed.

Influence of fibroblasts on the invasion and migration of highly or weakly metastatic B16 melanoma cells

We have examined the influence of fibroblasts on the invasive and migratory potential of highly metastatic melanoma B16-BL6 and weakly metastatic B16-F1 cells in vitro. Co-culture of B16-BL6 cells with a fibroblast monolayer without cellular contact in a Transwell chamber more effectively induced tumor-cell invasion into Matrigel basement membrane than co-culture of B16-F1 cells with a fibroblast monolayer. The activity was closely correlated with the chemotactic migration of tumor cells toward the fibroblast monolayer. We also found that the conditioned medium (CM) from the co-culture of fibroblasts with B16-BL6 cells without cellular contact, i.e., CM (B16-BL6/fibroblast), rather than from co-culture with B16-F1 cells, could potentially promote the migration of tumor cells of both types. Tumor cells did not chemotactically migrate to the CM (B16-BL6), CM (B16-F1) or CM (fibroblast). Antibodies against TGF-beta 1 or FN almost completely abolished the chemotactic migration of B16-BL6 cells to the CM (B16-BL6/fibroblast) or CM (TGF-beta 1-treated fibroblast) when these antibodies were co-incubated with fibroblasts and either B16-BL6 or TGF-beta 1. In contrast, the anti-EGF antibody did not show any inhibitory effects. Analysis of amounts of TGF-beta 1 or FN in various CM using ELISA plates, and using their specific antibodies, revealed that the concentration of TGF-beta 1 in the CM (B16-BL6) was slightly higher than in the CM (B16-F1), and the amount of FN in the CM (B16-BL6/fibroblast) was twice as high as in the CM (B16-F1/fibroblast). These results suggest that TGF-beta 1 released from B16-BL6 cells can stimulate fibroblasts to produce FN; consequently, the tumor cells were able to chemotactically migrate toward the released FN, and the differences in invasive and migratory activities towards fibroblasts in B16-BL6 and B16-F1 cells may in part be due to the amounts of TGF-beta 1 from tumor cells and of FN from TGF-beta 1-stimulated fibroblasts.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate inhibits extracellular matrix protein-induced haptotactic motility but not adhesion of B16 mouse melanoma cells

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (Sph-1-P), the initial product of Sph catabolism, inhibited chemotactic motility of a few lines of tumor cells [(1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 9686]. We now report that Sph-1-P even at very low concentration (10-100 nM) inhibits integrin-dependent motility of melanoma cells induced by extracellular matrix (ECM), although it did not affect integrin-dependent adhesion to ECM. Other Sph-related compounds tested (including sphinganine-1-P) were much less effective than Sph-1-P at inhibiting motility, and also had no effect on integrin-dependent adhesion of tumor cells to ECM. Our findings suggest that Sph-1-P inhibits actin filament reorganization by affecting cytoplasmic connection integrin in ECM-stimulated motility of melanoma cells.

Migratory interaction of amphibian epidermal cells with components of the basement membrane

In adult newts, basal epidermal cells adjacent to a fresh wound move toward the damaged area by migrating over the epidermal basement membrane. In an attempt to determine which basement membrane components mediate this migration, small pieces of glass coated with various natural matrices, purified proteins, or fragments of proteins were implanted into skin wounds such that epidermal cells attempting to form a wound epithelium would encounter the implants. Laminin derived from a cell line (M1536-B3) that produces no type IV collagen was inactive as a migration substrate. Migration on recombinant entactin was somewhat better than on laminin but was still only approximately 14% of that on type I collagen. M15 matrix, a laminin and entactin-containing product of M1536-B3 cells, was no better than entactin alone. Type IV collagen was an excellent substrate, producing slightly more migration than corresponding concentrations of type I collagen at nearly all concentrations tested. Migration on type IV lacking the NC1 domain was at least as good as on intact type IV. All the activity in type IV was present in a 95 kD fragment (alpha 1(IV)95) from the carboxy terminal two-thirds of the alpha 1 chain. Approximately 60% of the activity on alpha 1(IV)95 was obtained on implants coated with a 110 amino acid fragment of the alpha 1 chain derived from the carboxy terminal half of alpha 1(IV)95. Adding the synthetic peptide, arg-gly-asp-ser (RGDS) to the medium, blocked migration on fibronectin-coated implants but had no effect on implants coated with type IV, suggesting that migration on type IV involves different cell surface receptors than those mediating migration over fibronectin. Matrigel, a commercial product containing most basement membrane components, was a poor migration substrate. Thus if type IV mediates basal cell migration toward a wound in vivo, there may have to be some alterations in basement membrane structure to allow epidermal receptors to access type IV active site(s).

Effects of epidermal growth factor on invasiveness through the extracellular matrix in high- and low-metastatic clones of RCT sarcoma in vitro

We investigated the invasiveness of tumor cells through the extracellular matrix and the influence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on tumor cell invasion using in vitro systems in high-[RCT(+)] and low-metastatic [RCT(-)] clones established from poorly differentiated murine RCT sarcoma in C3H/He mice. In the invasion assay using a filter coated with reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel) in a Boyden chamber, RCT(+) cells were more invasive than RCT(-) cells. The attachment of RCT(+) cells to extracellular matrix components and the degradation of type IV collagen by the cells were significantly greater than with RCT(-) cells. However, there was no significant difference in the migration of cells to the extracellular matrix components between cultured RCT(+) and RCT(-) cells. These findings suggested that the different invasiveness of these clone cells was associated with the difference in the ability of attachment to and degradation of the matrix. The level of laminin receptor expression in RCT(+) cells was about four-fold that in RCT(-) cells and laminin stimulated the type IV collagenolytic activity of RCT(+) cells, suggesting that RCT(+) cell attachment to laminin via laminin receptor on the cell surface induced the production of type IV collagenase by the tumor cells. EGF did not affect the invasiveness of RCT(-) cells. In RCT(+) cells, EGF stimulated the invasiveness through Matrigel, the attachment to extracellular matrix components and the degradation of type IV collagen through high-affinity EGF receptors (EGFR), with Kd of pM order, while the migration to the matrix was not influenced by EGF. These findings suggest that the stimulatory effect of EGF on invasion is related to the acceleration of cell adhesion, and the degradative cascade of the extracellular matrix and high-affinity EGFRs play an important role in the effect of EGF on in vitro invasiveness in this tumor.

Inhibition of tumor metastasis by Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) peptide conjugated with sulfated chitin derivative, SCM-chitin-RGDS

We have synthesized a new compound in which Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) was conjugated with 6-O-sulfated and 6-O-carboxymethyl-chitin (SCM-chitin), i.e. SCM-chitin-RGDS, and tested the inhibitory effect on lung and liver metastases of three different types of tumors in mice. SCM-chitin-RGDS was more effective for the inhibition of liver metastasis of L5178Y-ML25 lymphoma and lung metastases of colon 26 M3.1 cells than SCM-chitin, RGDS or their mixture. GRGDS peptide, however, required a higher dose (3000 micrograms) to obtain a sufficiently antimetastatic effect. Intermittent i.v. administration of SCM-chitin-RGDS before or after the i.v. inoculation of L5178Y-ML25 cells caused significant inhibition of liver metastasis as compared with the multiple administration of RGDS, SCM-chitin or untreated control. Co-injection of lymphoma cells with SCM-chitin-RGDS or multiple treatment of SCM-chitin-RGDS after tumor inoculation showed significantly enhanced survival rate. SCM-chitin-RGDS also showed the spontaneous lung metastasis produced by intrafootpad injection of B16-BL6 melanoma cells by the multiple i.v. administrations. These results demonstrate that the conjugation of RGDS peptide with SCM-chitin led to augmentation of therapeutic potential to cancer metastasis, thus implying an importance of the conjugation of cell-adhesive RGDS peptide with structurally heparin-like SCM-chitin, which possess binding ability to the heparin-binding domain of fibronectin or laminin and extremely low anticoagulant properties.

A stochastic model for adhesion-mediated cell random motility and haptotaxis

The active migration of blood and tissue cells is important in a number of physiological processes including inflammation, wound healing, embryogenesis, and tumor cell metastasis. These cells move by transmitting cytoplasmic force through membrane receptors which are bound specifically to adhesion ligands in the surrounding substratum. Recently, much research has focused on the influence of the composition of extracellular matrix and the distribution of its components on the speed and direction of cell migration. It is commonly believed that the magnitude of the adhesion influences cell speed and/or random turning behavior, whereas a gradient of adhesion may bias the net direction of the cell movement, a phenomenon known as haptotaxis. The mechanisms underlying these responses are presently not understood. A stochastic model is presented to provide a mechanistic understanding of how the magnitude and distribution of adhesion ligands in the substratum influence cell movement. The receptor-mediated cell migration is modeled as an interrelation of random processes on distinct time scales. Adhesion receptors undergo rapid binding and transport, resulting in a stochastic spatial distribution of bound receptors fluctuating about some mean distribution. This results in a fluctuating spatio-temporal pattern of forces on the cell, which in turn affects the speed and turning behavior on a longer time scale. The model equations are a system of nonlinear stochastic differential equations (SDE's) which govern the time evolution of the spatial distribution of bound and free receptors, and the orientation and position of the cell. These SDE's are integrated numerically to simulate the behavior of the model cell on both a uniform substratum, and on a gradient of adhesion ligand concentration. Furthermore, analysis of the governing SDE system and corresponding Fokker-Planck equation (FPE) yields analytical expressions for indices which characterize cell movement on multiple time scales in terms of cell cytomechanical, morphological, and receptor binding and transport parameters. For a uniform adhesion ligand concentration, this analysis provides expressions for traditional cell movement indices such as mean speed, directional persistence time, and random motility coefficient. In a small gradient of adhesion, a perturbation analysis of the FPE yields a constitutive cell flux expression which includes a drift term for haptotactic directional cell migration. The haptotactic drift contains terms identified as contributions from directional orientation bias (taxis), kinesis, and orthotaxis, of which taxis appears to be predominant given estimates of the model parameters.

Antimetastatic activity of polymeric RGDT peptides conjugated with poly(ethylene glycol)

Polymeric peptides containing defined repetitive or cyclic structures of RGDT sequence, (RGDT)n (n = 1 to 11) and cyclo(RGDT)n (n = 2 to 4), at a dose of 500 micrograms exhibited an inhibitory effect on experimental lung metastasis upon co-injection with tumor cells and the magnitude of the effect increased in parallel with the increase of degree of repetition of the RGDT sequence. The conjugation of (RGDT)n (n = 1, 5, 11) with poly(ethylene glycol), PEG as a polymeric carrier led to enhanced inhibition of lung metastasis in proportion to the degree of RGDT sequence repetition and in a dose-dependent manner. Multiple i.v. administrations of PEG-(RGDT)11, at 2-day and 3-day intervals before the excision of primary tumors, effectively inhibited spontaneous lung metastasis by s.c. inoculation of tumors, whereas (RGDT)11 exhibited inhibition of lung metastasis only when given at 2-day intervals. This indicates that the conjugation of PEG with (RGDT)n allowed the prolongation of administration interval, implying a sustained inhibitory effect on tumor metastasis. In support of this supposition, a decrease in the arrest of radiolabeled tumor cells in the lungs was observed when PEG-(RGDT)11 was co-injected i.v. with tumor cells, or injected i.v. one day before tumor inoculation. In contrast, (RGDT)11 significantly inhibited the tumor cell arrest in the lungs only upon co-injection with tumor cells. We also noted that (RGDT)n, cyclo(RGDT)n and PEG-(RGDT)11 inhibited tumor cell invasion into Matrigel in a concentration-dependent manner and in proportion to the degree of RGDT sequence repetition, indicating that the peptide-mediated antimetastatic effect is partly associated with the anti-invasive potential. Thus, the conjugation of anti-cell adhesive and anti-metastatic RGDT peptide with PEG might provide a therapeutically promising basis for the prevention of cancer metastasis ("anti adhesion therapy").

Role of integrin alpha 2 beta 1 (VLA-2) in the migration of human melanoma cells on laminin and type IV collagen

The random cell migration of four human melanoma cell lines on laminin and type IV collagen-coated substrates was studied by video time-lapse image analysis and compared to the expression of a number of beta 1 integrins including alpha 1 beta 1, alpha 2 beta 1, alpha 3 beta 1, and alpha 6 beta 1 using flow cytometry. These integrins were heterogeneously expressed in the four cell lines tested with three of four lines expressing alpha 2 beta 1. The melanoma cell line that did not express alpha 2 beta 1 exhibited weak attachment and low cell migration rate on both laminin and type IV collagen, whereas the other melanoma cell lines showed an increase in attachment and mean cell migration rate in a dose-dependent manner on the matrix molecules (p < 0.001). The enhanced migration seen in the three cell lines could be specifically inhibited by function blocking anti-beta 1 and anti-alpha 2 monoclonal antibodies (p < 0.001) but not by function blocking anti-alpha 3 and anti-alpha 6 monoclonal antibodies. Image analysis of the cells before and after treatment with anti-beta 1 and anti-alpha 2 MoAb indicated that the inhibition of migration did not result in detectable cell detachment, retraction of cell processes, or other significant cell-shape change. Taken together, the findings suggest that the observable enhanced migration on laminin and type IV collagen of a number of human melanoma cell lines is largely mediated by integrin alpha 2 beta 1.

Integrin beta 1- and beta 3-mediated endothelial cell migration is triggered through distinct signaling mechanisms

Human umbilical vein endothelial cell attachment, spreading and migration on collagen and vitronectin are mediated by integrins alpha 2 beta 1 and alpha v beta 3, respectively, and these events take place in the absence of cytokines, growth factors, or chemoattractants. Cell attachment and spreading on these ligands occur in the absence of extracellular calcium, as does migration on collagen. In contrast, vitronectin-mediated migration is absolutely dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium. Cell contact with immobilized vitronectin or anti-alpha v beta 3 mAbs promotes a measurable rise in [Ca2+]i which requires an extracellular calcium source, whereas collagen, or anti-alpha 2 beta 1 mAbs fail to promote this signaling event. In fact, vitronectin-mediated migration and the rise in intracellular calcium showed the same dose dependence on extracellular calcium. While vitronectin and collagen differ in their ability to induce a calcium influx both ligands or antibodies to their respective integrins promote an equivalent increase in intracellular pH consistent with activation of the Na/H antiporter an event independent of extracellular calcium. These results support two salient conclusions. Firstly, collagen and vitronectin, through their respective integrins, promote distinct intracellular signaling events. Secondly, the alpha v beta 3 specific influx of calcium is not required for cell spreading yet appears to facilitate cellular migration on vitronectin.

Antimetastatic effect by anti-adhesion therapy with cell-adhesive peptide of fibronectin in combination with anticancer drugs

We have investigated the therapeutic effect of CH-271 fusion polypeptide containing both cell-binding domain (C-274) and heparin-binding domain (H-271) of fibronectin in combination with anticancer drugs such as doxorubicin (DOX) or mitomycin C (MMC) on tumor metastasis of different types of tumors. CH-271 fusion polypeptide alone significantly inhibited both liver and lung metastasis when it was co-injected with L5178Y-ML25 T-lymphoma, RAW117-H10 B-lymphoma or B16-BL6 melanoma cells, and spontaneous lung metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma cells when administered i.v. seven times before or after surgical excision of the primary tumors. Combined treatments with CH-271 and either DOX or MMC significantly inhibited liver and lung metastasis of lymphoma or melanoma cells respectively, as compared with either treatment alone or the untreated control. Administrations of CH-271 and DOX in combination substantially prolonged the survival time of mice injected i.v. with L5178Y-ML25 cells. CH-271 or DOX was effective for inhibiting the invasion of L5178Y-ML25 cells into Matrigel in a concentration-dependent manner. Our previous study has shown that CH-271-mediated inhibition of tumor invasion may be due in part to the anti-cell adhesive property without affecting the cell growth, whereas the anti-invasive effect of DOX was established to have resulted from the growth inhibition of tumor cells. Moreover, the combination of CH-271 with DOX provided a more effective inhibition of tumor invasion into Matrigel than did either alone. Thus, we have demonstrated that the combination of anti-cell adhesive CH-271 and anticancer drugs such as DOX or MMC, i.e. anti-adhesion therapy and chemotherapy, is a new approach that offers enhanced (additive) inhibitory effects on tumor metastasis and invasion.

Regulation of cell function by extracellular matrix

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides structural support and adhesive substrates for the body tissues. Recent advances in our understanding of the biology of matrix indicate that the ECM also plays a significant role in regulating the behavior of cells. Matrix proteins engender changes in cell shape and movement, bind growth factors, and facilitate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Matrix-induced differentiation results from multiple stimuli that include: tensile forces on the cell, cytokine- or growth factor-mediated stimulation, and interaction with bioactive domains of matrix glycoproteins. Because these signals are important determinants of cell behavior, pharmacological manipulation of cell-matrix interactions may offer a valuable new approach to disease treatment.

Adriamycin-induced inhibition of melanoma cell invasion is correlated with decreases in tumor cell motility and increases in focal contact formation

Tumor cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is closely linked with tumor cell invasion and metastasis. In this study, we demonstrate that low levels of adriamycin, a widely used anticancer drug, can inhibit the invasion of highly metastatic K1735-M2 mouse melanoma cells in vitro through a reconstituted basement membrane extract. Adriamycin-induced inhibition of melanoma cell invasion occurred at levels of the drug (i.e. 1 ng/ml) that did not inhibit tumor cell growth, suggesting that the observed inhibition in tumor cell invasion was not due to the well-documented ability of adriamycin to interfere with DNA and/or RNA synthesis. Rather, these studies indicated that adriamycin-induced inhibition of melanoma cell invasion was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in the ability of adriamycin-treated tumor cells to migrate in response to several isolated ECM components including fibronectin, laminin and basement membrane (type IV) collagen. The decreased migration of adriamycin-treated tumor cells was not accompanied by a decrease in the adhesion or spreading of the adriamycin-treated cells on substrata coated with these ECM components. Instead, adriamycin-treated cells actually exhibited a slightly increased propensity (compared to untreated control cells) to adhere on fibronectin-, laminin-, and type IV collagen-coated substrata. Additionally, adriamycin treatment caused a dramatic increase in focal contact formation by these melanoma cells, as assessed by fluorescent microscopy of actin and vinculin. In addition to providing a useful model for which to study the molecular and cellular basis for focal contact formation, these results further emphasize the results of several other investigators that have suggested an important role for focal contacts in modulating tumor cell motility, invasion and metastasis.

Migration of bovine bronchial epithelial cells to extracellular matrix components

Migration of epithelial cells is an important feature of wound healing. Components of extracellular matrix stimulate migration of other cells, and we hypothesized that basement membrane components, laminin and type IV collagen, stimulate migration of bovine bronchial epithelial cells (BBEC). BBEC cultured for 3 days were used in migration assays using the blindwell chamber technique. BBEC migrated in a concentration-dependent manner to laminin, type IV collagen, and fibronectin. "Checkerboard" analysis demonstrated that the migration was directional for each of the components studied. We also evaluated the stimulatory activity of fibronectin fragments. A fragment containing the RGDS peptide was stimulatory of migration while other fragments were much less so, suggesting a role for RGDS-sensitive, integrin-mediated mechanisms. In order to evaluate whether bound or soluble matrix components were required to direct cell migration, we performed haptotaxis assays with precoated filters in the migration chambers. Fibronectin-precoated filters demonstrated significant stimulation of migration, suggesting that some of the migration in our original assays with fibronectin present in the lower chambers could be termed haptotactic. laminin- and type IV collagen-precoated filters were less active. When insulin was used as a chemoattractant, the fibronectin-precoated filters were more facilitatory of migration than the other matrix coatings. In summary, BBEC can chemotactically migrate to extracellular matrix components. Thus, the composition of the provisional matrix that forms at sites of epithelial injury may play an important role in the repair processes that occur after injury to the bronchial epithelium.

Neutrophil attractant/activation protein-1 (interleukin-8) induces in vitro neutrophil migration by haptotactic mechanism

The role of leukocyte migration induced by the substrate-bound attractants is obscured by the inability of standard methods for the study of leukocyte migration to dissociate chemotaxis and haptotaxis, migration in response to soluble and surface-bound gradients of attractants. Here we show that the gradient of neutrophil attractant/activation protein-1 (interleukin-8, NAP-1/IL-8) induces directed in vitro neutrophil migration when bound to the polycarbonate filter. In addition, we suggest that haptotaxis is responsible for neutrophil migration induced by NAP-1/IL-8 in standard Boyden-type chemotaxis assays and, in light of the ability of NAP-1/IL-8 to bind to the endothelial cell surface and the extracellular matrix, could also be of great significance in vivo.

Differences in chemotaxis to fibronectin in weakly and highly metastatic tumor cells

We have examined the chemotactic ability of tumor cell lines with different metastatic potential to plasma fibronectin in Transwell chamber assay. Human renal carcinoma cells with highly metastatic potential, SN12 C-2, chemotactically migrated to fibronectin (10 micrograms/ml) about three-fold more strongly than weakly metastatic SN12 C-4 cells. Similarly, murine melanoma B16-BL6 cells (highly metastatic) showed higher motility to soluble fibronectin in comparison with weakly metastatic B16-F1 cells. Anti-VLA-alpha 3 and beta 1 antibodies potently blocked the chemotaxis of both highly and weakly metastatic cells (SN12 C-2 and C-4) to fibronectin. This implies that the migration of both C-2 and C-4 cells to fibronectin is basically mediated by VLA-3 receptor. In contrast, the anti-VLA-alpha 5 antibody and RGDS peptide significantly inhibited the chemotaxis of SN12 C-2 cells to fibronectin, but did not affect weakly metastatic SN12 C-4 cells. These results suggest that the chemotactic ability to fibronectin positively correlates with the metastatic potential in SN12 and B16 cell lines, and that VLA-5 receptor is concerned in the motility of highly metastatic SN12 C-2 cells to soluble fibronectin.

Distribution of laminin, type IV collagen, and fibronectin in the cell columns and trophoblastic shell of early macaque placentas

The cytotrophoblastic cell columns and trophoblastic shell of macaque placentas accumulate progressively greater amounts of intercellular material during early gestation. We studied the composition of this material in placentas collected from 22-34 days of gestation by using immunoperoxidase techniques directed to the extracellular matrix molecules fibronectin, type IV collagen, and laminin. These antigens co-localized within the intercellular deposits at all stages studied. At day 22 the proximal cell columns were composed of cells with narrow interstices and which lacked immunoreactivity for the 3 antigens. Distally the cells were vacuolated and the intercellular spaces increased in size and contained dense matrix deposits. The trophoblastic shell consisted of closely packed, non-vacuolated cytotrophoblast cells with only a delicate meshwork of matrix. By day 27 the matrix deposits of the distal cell columns increased markedly in size. The trophoblastic shell contained larger numbers of vacuolated cells and was occupied by accumulations of matrix. By 34 days the matrix deposits of the cell columns expanded substantially along the longitudinal axes of the columns. These deposits were often continuous with a matrix-dense, cell-deficient layer in the trophoblastic shell. This matrix-rich zone lay between a cellular layer adjacent to the intervillous space and a similar, but discontinuous, cell layer that formed the junctional zone with the endometrium.

Immunohistochemical study of transforming growth factor beta, fibronectin, and fibronectin receptor in invasive mammary carcinomas

Thirty-one cases of mammary carcinoma were examined immunohistochemically for the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF) beta, fibronectin (FN) and fibronectin receptor (FNR) in order to clarify the reason for the reported relationship between TGF beta expression and a high incidence of lymph node metastasis. It was revealed that TGF beta expression is closely related to the expression of FN, an intercellular matrix protein, and its cellular receptor FNR, one of the integrins. The interaction between FN and FNR in a tumor is considered to form the basis of the invasive nature of carcinoma cells. Thus, it is suggested that TGF beta expression in carcinoma cells induces the interaction between FN and FNR, which may lead to carcinomatous invasion resulting in lymph nodal metastasis.

Laminin expression in the mouse lung increases with development and stimulates spontaneous organotypic rearrangement of mixed lung cells

The recent establishment of a role for laminin in mouse lung organogenesis (Schuger et al. 1990a,b, 1991) prompted us to study its expression in the developing lung. Laminin A and B chains were detected in the murine lung from the first hours of development onward. In situ hybridization of mRNA as well as SDS-PAGE studies of lung cells in monoculture indicated that both epithelium and mesenchyme produce complete laminin molecules. Quantitative analysis of the in situ hybridization studies showed a gradual increase in laminin expression during development which was further supported by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. The overall pattern of expression suggested that the effects of laminin in morphogenesis were not restricted to a particular stage of development. Furthermore, the increase in expression during late development supported a role for the molecule in the fetal lung, which was not previously established. We next determined whether the increase in laminin production modulated the behavior of fetal lung cells as compared with their embryonic counterparts. We previously showed that organotypic pattern formation does not occur in cultures of mixed embryonic lung cells unless exogenous laminin is added (Schuger et al., 1990b). Organotypic pattern formation is the result of cell sorting into epithelial and mesenchymal compartments and further rearrangement in a pattern resembling the tissue of origin. In the present study, we demonstrated that organotypic pattern formation occurs spontaneously in cultures of mixed fetal lung cells, which express high laminin levels. Pattern formation was abolished by antibodies to laminin. These studies suggest a correlation between laminin expression and the ability of lung cells in culture to reproduce normal tissue patterns. We conclude that laminin is critical for epithelial-mesenchymal recognition and further morphogenic interaction during both the embryonic and fetal stages of lung development.

Inhibitory effect of human fibroblast interferon (HuIFN-beta) on the growth and invasive potential of cultured human melanoma cells in vitro

The effect of HuIFN-beta on the invasive potential of melanoma cells was studied using an in-vitro model system with Transwell chambers equipped with matrigel-coated polycarbonate filters. When (10(2), 10(3) and 10(4) IU/ml) for 3 days and then grown in medium without HuIFN-beta for another 7 days. On day 7, the proliferation of melanoma cells was inhibited by 77 and 87%, respectively, when cells were treated with 10(2) and 10(4) IU/ml of HuIFN-beta. This antiproliferative effect was dose-dependent and more pronounced on day 11. The effect of HuIFN-beta on the invasive potential of melanoma cells was studied using an in-vitro model system with Transwell chambers equipped with Matrigel-coated polycarbonate filters. When cells were treated with HuIFN-beta (10(2), 10(3) and 10(4) IU/ml) for 24 h, the amount of tritiated thymidine incorporated into cells was increased, indicating that cell growth was not inhibited. However, the number of cells that invaded to the filter decreased significantly by 15-40%. HuIFN-beta did not have an inhibitory effect on the haptotactic migration of melanoma cells. These data indicate that the antiproliferative effect of HuIFN-beta occurs after 24 h and that the direct anti-invasive effect is independent of any effect on proliferation.

Basement membrane components (matrigel) promote the tumorigenicity of human breast adenocarcinoma MCF7 cells and provide an in vivo model to assess the responsiveness of cells to estrogen

The ability to transplant human tumors into athymic nude mice allows studies of tumor cells in vivo. However, after s.c. injection the incidence of tumor and metastases in nude mice is frequently low. We have studied the tumorigenicity in nude mice of estradiol (E2)-sensitive breast adenocarcinoma MCF7 cells. Matrigel, an extract of basement membrane proteins, induces rapid tumor development after s.c. injection of MCF7 cells. In the absence of this matrice, MCF7 cells failed to induce tumor growth. In this in vivo model, MCF7 cells were analysed for their E2 sensitivity. Two weeks after inoculation in the presence of matrigel, cells formed growing tumors in intact mice supplemented with E2. In ovariectomized or untreated mice, tumor appearance was delayed and the growth level was very low. Thus, MCF7 cells formed tumors in the absence of E2 but retained in vivo their responsiveness to estrogen. Growing human tumors in nude mice provides a rapid and useful model for testing the sensitivity of cells to hormone.

Degradation of extracellular-matrix proteins by human cathepsin B from normal and tumour tissues

Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that increased malignancy of several histological types of human and animal tumours is associated with increases in their cathepsin B activity, particularly cathepsin B activity associated with plasma-membrane/endosomal vesicles or shed vesicles. Here we report that cathepsin B from normal or tumour tissues degrades purified extracellular-matrix components, type IV collagen, laminin and fibronectin, at both acid pH and neutral pH. The number and sizes of degradation products were analysed by SDS/PAGE. Cathepsin B from both sources exhibited similar activities towards, and similar patterns of cleavage of, the extracellular-matrix proteins. At neutral pH, cathepsin B from both sources appeared to undergo autodegradation, a process that was decreased in the presence of alternative substrates such as the extracellular-matrix proteins. Cathepsin B readily degraded type IV collagen at 25 degrees C, indicating activity towards native type IV collagen. Fibronectin degradation products of 100-200 kDa and of 18 and 22 kDa were observed. A single 70 kDa fragment was released from laminin under non-reducing conditions and multiple fragments ranging from 45 to 200 kDa under reducing conditions. These results suggest that cathepsin B at or near the surface of malignant tumour cells may play a functional role in the focal dissolution of extracellular matrices.

A cell surface chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, immunologically related to CD44, is involved in type I collagen-mediated melanoma cell motility and invasion

The metastatic spread of tumor cells occurs through a complex series of events, one of which involves the adhesion of tumor cells to extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Multiple interactions between cell surface receptors of an adherent tumor cell and the surrounding ECM contribute to cell motility and invasion. The current studies evaluate the role of a cell surface chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) in the adhesion, motility, and invasive behavior of a highly metastatic mouse melanoma cell line (K1735 M4) on type I collagen matrices. By blocking mouse melanoma cell production of CSPG with p-nitrophenyl beta-D-xylopyranoside (beta-D-xyloside), a compound that uncouples chondroitin sulfate from CSPG core protein synthesis, we observed a corresponding decrease in melanoma cell motility on type I collagen and invasive behavior into type I collagen gels. Melanoma cell motility on type I collagen could also be inhibited by removing cell surface chondroitin sulfate with chondroitinase. In contrast, type I collagen-mediated melanoma cell adhesion and spreading were not affected by either beta-D-xyloside or chondroitinase treatments. These results suggest that mouse melanoma CSPG is not a primary cell adhesion receptor, but may play a role in melanoma cell motility and invasion at the level of cellular translocation. Furthermore, purified mouse melanoma cell surface CSPG was shown, by affinity chromatography and in solid phase binding assays, to bind to type I collagen and this interaction was shown to be mediated, at least in part, by chondroitin sulfate. Additionally we have determined that mouse melanoma CSPG is composed of a 110-kD core protein that is recognized by anti-CD44 antibodies on Western blots. Collectively, our data suggests that interactions between a cell surface CD44-related CSPG and type I collagen in the ECM may play an important role in mouse melanoma cell motility and invasion, and that the chondroitin sulfate portion of the proteoglycan seems to be a critical component in mediating this effect.

Inhibition of tumor invasion and extracellular matrix degradation by ubenimex (bestatin)

We have investigated the effect of the immunomodulator ubenimex (hereafter referred to as bestatin) on the enzymatic degradation of the extracellular matrix by human renal cell carcinoma SN12M cells during the invasive process. The invasion of SN12M cells into reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel) was inhibited by the presence of bestatin in a concentration-dependent manner. However, bestatin did not have any effect on tumor cell adhesion and migration to the extracellular matrices which may be involved in tumor cell invasion. Bestatin inhibited the degradation of type IV collagen by tumor cells, but not by tumor-conditioned medium (TCM), in a concentration-dependent manner. We also found that bestatin inhibited hydrolysing activities towards substrates of aminopeptidases in SN12M cells. Since bestatin was found to inhibit aminopeptidase activity, the inhibition of tumor invasion by bestatin is likely to be associated with its action as an enzyme inhibitor. Bestatin only slightly inhibited tumor cell plasmin activity, which can lead to the conversion of the latent collagenase to the active form, but this slight effect was not significant. The zymography of TCM from SN12M cells showed that the treatment of tumor cells with bestatin resulted in the disappearance of the 68 kDa type IV collagenase-enzyme level (active form) and slight reduction of the 72 kDa type IV collagenase-enzyme level (latent form). These results indicated that bestatin may inhibit tumor cell invasion through a mechanism involving its inhibitory action on aminopeptidases in tumor cells, suggesting that the aminopeptidase may partly be associated with the conversion of a latent form of type IV procollagenase to an active form or the secretion of the collagenases from tumor cells.

Migration of a human keratinocyte cell line (HACAT) to interstitial collagen type I is mediated by the alpha 2 beta 1-integrin receptor

The migratory response of the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT to collagen type I and the molecular mechanism underlying collagen-mediated migration have been analyzed. The migratory response of HaCaT cells to collagen type I consisted of a dose-dependent migration to insoluble step gradients of substratum-bound collagen (haptotaxis) and to gradients of soluble collagen (chemotaxis). Checkerboard analysis demonstrated a minor chemokinetic component. Denatured collagen type I was less chemoattractive than the native triple-helical form. Pre-treatment of cells with 25-250 micrograms/ml of synthetic peptides containing the fibronectin cell-recognition sequence RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of fibronectin-mediated chemotaxis, whereas chemotaxis to collagen was not affected. We then investigated the role of VLA/collagen-receptors for collagen type I-induced chemotaxis. Monoclonal antibody (MoAb) 5E8, which selectively blocks function of the alpha 2 subunit of the VLA-2/collagen receptor, dose-dependently inhibited the chemotactic response of HaCaT cells to collagen. This effect was specific for collagen-mediated chemotaxis because the chemotactic response to fibronectin remained unaffected. In contrast, a function blocking MoAb directed to the alpha 3 subunit of the coexpressed VLA-3 receptor, which is also capable of binding collagen, had no effect. However, function blocking MoAb directed to the beta 1-chain of integrins completely inhibited chemotaxis to collagen type I. Based on our results, we propose that the chemotactic migration of the human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) to collagen type I is specifically mediated by the RGD independent VLA-2/collagen receptor (alpha 2 beta 1) of the integrin family.

Characterization of the invasive and metastatic phenotype in human renal cell carcinoma

The purpose of these studies was to identify some characteristics of metastatic cells and deficiencies of non-metastatic cells in the heterogeneous SN12 human renal cell carcinoma. The SN12 parental line and several isolated variants with different metastatic potential were studied both in vivo and in vitro. We compared the ability of metastatic and non-metastatic cells to adhere to components of the extracellular matrix or to endothelial cells, to migrate and invade, to form multicell aggregates, to survive in the circulation, and to produce experimental and spontaneous lung metastases. In general, highly metastatic SN12 cells capable of producing spontaneous lung metastases demonstrated invasion through reconstituted basement membrane-coated filters; the cells also released diffusible collagenolytic activity into the culture medium that could enhance invasion by otherwise non-invasive and non-metastatic SN12 cells. In addition to enhanced invasion, metastatic cells produced more homotypic aggregation then non-metastatic cells and survived to produce experimental metastasis. Collectively, these data confirm that metastatic cells must complete all steps of the process; in this process, failure to produce metastasis is probably due to one or more deficiencies.

Wound repair of human surface respiratory epithelium

Surface airway epithelium is frequently injured by noxious inhaled agents, epithelial wound repair may be an important process by which the epithelial barrier integrity is maintained. To evaluate the role of surface airway cells in the wound repair process, we developed an in vitro wounding model of human nasal epithelial respiratory cells in primary culture. Circular wounds were made in the epithelial cell culture by detaching, with a glass capillary, approximately 50 cells from the collagen matrix. Video microscopy and electron microscopy observations demonstrated the contribution of two main events during the repair process: the spreading of the cells at the edge of the wounded surface, and the migration of epithelial cell sheets. Complete wound closure occurred within 5 to 8 h. The inhibition of wound repair by cytoskeleton inhibitors or cellular protein synthesis inhibitors suggested that these factors are involved in the wound repair process of surface airway epithelium.

Practical limitations of estimation of protein adsorption to polymer surfaces

The estimation of protein adsorption to polymeric surfaces is a prerequisite for analysing the biological activity of a coated protein both in the evaluation of polymeric biomaterials and in the standardisation of ELISA assays. Direct quantitative methods utilise either measurements of the physical characteristics of the coated surface (equipment necessary for this is not always available), or measurements of radiolabelled protein. We demonstrate that proteins labelled with 125I using chloramine-T contain a significant proportion of 125I label which is unable to adsorb to polyvinyl microtitre wells. This non-bindable label is not separable from protein by fractionation on Sephadex G-25 but does dissociate upon SDS gel electrophoresis. The proportion of non-adsorbable label increases with storage time at -70 degrees C, the effect being accelerated at higher temperatures. A method is described for estimating protein adsorption which is both independent of the non adsorbable fraction but can also be used to estimate it. The use of biotin as a protein label does not apparently result in deterioration of adsorption with short storage times. The problem of subsequent desorption in ELISA buffers, tissue culture media, or body fluids is discussed.

Colloidal gold localization of type IV collagen in the extracellular matrix of rat gastric mucosa: influence of alcohol and prostaglandin

The effect of acute alcohol exposure on the gastric mucosal basal lamina, and its major structural protein type IV collagen, was assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunogold (IG) labeling of this collagenous material. Fasted rats orally received either 50% or 100% ethanol. Five or 60 minutes later animals were sacrificed and mucosal samples were obtained from the glandular epithelium for TEM or IG localization of type IV collagen. For IG studies, the number of gold particles/area lamina densa was quantified in interfoveolar, pit, and gland regions as an index of the molecular integrity of type IV collagen. Both ethanol concentrations induced epithelial exfoliation with pleating of the denuded lamina densa. Absolute ethanol, and to a lesser extent 50% ethanol, caused frequent rupture of a thickened, precipitated lamina densa. Immunolabeling of type IV collagen varied with the experimental protocol. In control tissues exposed to oral saline, binding was greatest in the interfoveolar zone. Low binding occurred with 100% ethanol in all regions when compared with controls, but 50% ethanol evoked significantly higher binding in interfoveolar regions, in a similar fashion to controls. In additional studies in which 16,16 dimethyl prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (10 micrograms/kg) was injected subcutaneously prior to oral ethanol exposure, PGE2 pretreatment prevented the large decrease in IG binding induced by absolute ethanol, but the level still remained significantly less than with corresponding controls. In contrast, pretreatment with PGE2 prior to 50% ethanol exposure restored type IV collagen immunolabeling to control levels. These results indicate that ethanol induces a concentration-dependent lowering of IG binding to type IV collagen which also effects its reversibility by PGE2.

The role of G-protein in matrix-mediated motility of highly and poorly invasive melanoma cells

Membranes from 2 K1735 murine melanoma clones of high invasive capacity show increased amounts of pertussis toxin (PT) substrate when compared to a weakly invasive cellular counterpart. Using a panel of specific G-protein antibodies, we identified Gi alpha 2 as the PT-sensitive G-protein uniquely abundant in highly invasive cells. In addition, RNA hybridization results confirm the immunoblot observations that Gi alpha 2 is present at higher levels in strongly invasive cells. This result suggests that the elevated expression of Gi alpha 2 in highly invasive cells is not entirely due to differences in either translational efficiency or protein degradation but is related to altered RNA transcriptional initiation, processing and/or degradation. ADP-ribosylation of Gi alpha-subunits by PT inhibited the fibronectin, laminin and collagen type-IV-stimulated motility of the 2 highly invasive clones, while PT treatment of cells from a poorly invasive clone resulted in little or no reduction of the fibronectin, laminin or collagen type-IV-stimulated lower motility. Furthermore, PT treatment of highly or poorly invasive K1735 clones does not result in any alteration in cellular cAMP accumulation, suggesting that the PT substrate is not linked with the adenylyl cyclase enzyme complex. The data suggest that a PT-sensitive G-protein, probably Gi alpha 2 regulates second messenger pathways that contribute to elevated motility in highly invasive K1735 cells.

The RGD containing site of the mouse laminin A chain is active for cell attachment, spreading, migration and neurite outgrowth

The laminin A chain has been sequenced by cDNA cloning and was found to contain an RGD sequence. Synthetic peptides containing the RGD sequence and flanking amino acids were active in mediating cell adhesion, spreading, migration, and neurite outgrowth. Furthermore, endothelial cell attachment to a laminin substrate was inhibited by an RGD-containing synthetic peptide. Antisera against the integrin (fibronectin) receptor, and monoclonal antibody to the integrin, VLA-6, inhibited cell interaction with laminin, as well as with peptides containing an RGD sequence. These results suggest that the RGD containing site of laminin is active and interacts with the integrin family of receptors in certain cells.

Recombinant interferon alpha and gamma modulate the invasive potential of human melanoma in vitro

We have studied the effects of interferons (IFNs) on the attachment, collagenase IV activity, chemotactic migration and in vitro invasion of human melanoma (A2058) cells treated for various time periods with human recombinant interferon alpha (hrIFN-alpha) or gamma (hrIFN-gamma). The cells treated with hrIFN alpha for a short time period attached more readily to purified basement membrane components, type IV collagen and laminin, than control cells. The stimulating effect of hrIFN gamma on the attachment was seen, however, when the cells were treated for a longer period of time (3 days) with this drug. The short-term treatment with hrIFN alpha also enhanced the in vitro invasion of cells through a reconstituted basement membrane compared to findings with untreated control cells. Pre-treatment of 3 days or more was, however, needed for hrIFN gamma to promote the invasion of A2058 cells. Both IFNs increased the secretion of basement membrane (type IV) collagen degrading metalloproteinase (collagenase IV) activity from human melanoma cells. Further, chemotaxis, i.e., directed migration of A2058 cells to laminin, was enhanced by both IFNs. In contrast, the attachment, collagenase IV activity, chemotaxis, and in vitro invasion were markedly inhibited when the cells were treated for an extended time period (7 days) with the IFNs. Interferons also inhibited cell proliferation after 4 days of exposure. These results suggest that time of treatment with interferons modulates the invasive capacity of human melanoma cells in vitro, causing initially a transient enhancement of invasion followed by an inhibition of invasive propensity after extended exposure to these drugs, and that different biochemical steps required for successful invasion are regulated in parallel by interferons alpha and gamma.

A new rat colon cancer cell line metastasizes spontaneously: biologic characteristics and chemotherapeutic response

A new cell line (RCN-9) was established in culture from a transplantable rat colon adenocarcinoma, which was induced in the colon of a male Fischer F344 rat by subcutaneous administration of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. When RCN-9 cells were injected subcutaneously or into the cecal subserosa of syngeneic rats, carcinomas with progressive growth were obtained and the development of lung (63.6%) and liver (40.0%) metastases, respectively, ensued. Antitumor effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), adriamycin (ADM) and mitomycin C (MMC) against RCN-9 were examined in vivo and in vitro. 5-FU and ADM had antitumor effects both in vivo and in vitro; MMC had antitumor effects in vitro. These results show that the RCN-9 cell line can be used both as a model to study mechanisms of metastasis from colon carcinoma and as a model in chemotherapeutic studies of metastatic disease from colon carcinoma.

Chemotactic activity present in liver extracellular matrix

A selective pattern of metastasis, not accountable by a simple mechanical trapping mechanism, is exhibited by many primary tumors and appears to be controlled by properties of both the tumor cell and the host organ. This organotropism may be regulated, in part, by the migration of an invading tumor cell toward chemotactic factors present in the extracellular matrix which may be released as a result of proteolytic digestion. To test this hypothesis we have examined 4 M guanidine extracts of liver extracellular matrix, prepared by high salt extraction, for organ-specific chemotactic activity. The murine cell lines B16-L4b and M5076, which preferentially metastasize to the liver in an experimental metastasis model, demonstrated preferential motility toward the liver matrix extract while the lung-colonizing lines B16, B16-F10 and B16-BL6 did not. The liver specific chemotactic activity eluted as four fractions of Mr much less than 250,000, Mr approximately 245,000, Mr approximately 120,000 and Mr approximately 30,000 by gel filtration chromatography.

Thrombospondin stimulates motility of human neutrophils

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) migrate to sites of inflammation or injury in response to chemoattractants released at those sites. The presence of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins at these sites may influence PMN accumulation at blood vessel walls and enhance their ability to move through tissue. Thrombospondin (TSP), a 450-kD ECM protein whose major proteolytic fragments are a COOH-terminal 140-kD fragment and an NH2-terminal heparin-binding domain (HBD), is secreted by platelets, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells. TSP binds specifically to PMN surface receptors and has been shown, in other cell types, to promote directed movement. TSP in solution at low concentrations (30-50 nM) "primed" PMNs for f-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP)-mediated chemotaxis, increasing the response two- to fourfold. A monoclonal antibody against the HBD of TSP totally abolished this priming effect suggesting that the priming activity resides in the HBD of TSP. Purified HBD retains the priming activity of TSP thereby corroborating the antibody data. TSP alone, in solution at high concentrations (0.5-3.0 microM), stimulated chemotaxis of PMNs and required both the HBD and the 140-kD fragment of TSP. In contrast to TSP in solution, TSP bound to nitrocellulose filters in the range of 20-70 pmol stimulated random locomotion of PMNs. The number of PMNs migrating in response to bound TSP was approximately two orders of magnitude greater than the number of cells that exhibited chemotaxis in response to soluble TSP or fMLP. Monoclonal antibody C6.7, which recognizes an epitope near the carboxyl terminus of TSP, blocked migration stimulated by bound TSP, suggesting that the activity resides in this domain. Using proteolytic fragments, we demonstrated that bound 140-kD fragment, but not HBD, promoted migration of PMNs. Therefore, TSP released at injury sites, alone or in synergy with chemotactic peptides like fMLP, could play a role in directing PMN movement.

Regulation of laminin gene expression in the expansion of mouse blastocysts

This study aims to elucidate gene expression of laminin and its role in expansion of the blastocyst during mouse early embryo-genesis. The gene expression of laminin, in particular the B1 subunit and the synthesis of laminin polypeptides, was examined during the expansion of blastocyst by a RNA-blot hybridization with 32P-labeled laminin B1 cDNA and immunoprecipitation followed by a SDS-PAGE, respectively. Laminin B1 transcript was actively expressed in the blastocyst stage of embryos. The gene expression of laminin B1 and the synthesis of laminin protein were also increased when blastocyst was expanded. Treatments of cAMP analogue, isobutylmethylxanthine, forskolin, and cholera toxin, which are known to stimulate the blastocyst expansion, increased laminin B1 transcript levels and synthesis of laminin polypeptides. Treatment with retinoic acid, a known regulator of laminin gene expression, not only increased the gene expression of laminin but stimulated the blastocoel expansion without a significant increase in intracellular cAMP levels. These results indicate that laminin gene expression may play an important role in the process of blastocyst expansion in the mouse preimplantation embryos.

Inhibition of lung metastasis by synthetic and recombinant fragments of human fibronectin with functional domains

We have investigated the antimetastatic effect of synthetic or recombinant peptides containing the functional domains of fibronectin on experimental and spontaneous lung metastases of murine tumor cells. CS1 peptide which is present within type III homology connecting segment (IIICS) as well as C-274 (cell-binding domain) were able to inhibit experimental lung metastasis when co-injected intravenously (iv) with B16-BL6 melanoma cells, while H-271 (heparin-binding domain) could not. In the spontaneous metastasis model, multiple iv administrations of CS1 or C-274 after surgical excision of primary tumors caused a significant reduction of metastatic colonies in the lung. Both CS1 and C-274 significantly inhibited cell adhesion and migration to fibronectin-coated substrates when added freely in solution. CS1 peptide also inhibited the cell adhesion and migration to laminin-coated substrates, but C-274 did not. H-271 did not have any inhibitory effect on cell adhesion or migration to either of the substrates. Similarly, CS1 inhibited tumor invasion to both Matrigel/fibronectin- and Matrigel/laminin-coated filters, whereas C-274 inhibited the invasion to only Matrigel/fibronectin-coated filter. These results indicate that CS1 peptide of fibronectin, lacking the Arg-Gly-Asp-containing domain, actively inhibits tumor metastases in spontaneous and experimental metastasis models. The use of such a peptide might offer a promising therapeutic approach for combatting or preventing cancer metastasis.

Identification of the B1 and B2 subunits of human placental laminin and rat parietal-yolk-sac laminin using antisera specific for murine laminin-beta-galactosidase fusion proteins

Antisera raised against fusion proteins consisting of murine laminin B1 and B2 subunit sequences fused to the C-terminus of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase were tested for their subunit specificity on Western blots of deglycosylated murine Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) laminin. The antisera raised against B2 subunit sequences (anti-XLB2.1 and anti-XLB2.2) bound only to the EHS laminin B2 subunit. One of the antisera raised against B1 subunit sequences (anti-XLB1.2) was specific for the B1 subunit, whereas two others (anti-XLB1.1 and anti-XLB1.3) cross-reacted with the EHS laminin B2 subunit. Gold-labelled heparin-albumin was shown to bind specifically to the A subunit of deglycosylated EHS laminin on Western blots. These reagents were used to identify the homologous subunits in rat parietal-yolk-sac laminin and human placental laminin. The anti-(fusion protein) antisera identified the B1 and B2 subunits of the rat laminin, and these were similar in size to the murine EHS B subunits. Human placental laminin gave bands of 400, 340, 230, 190 and 180 kDa on reducing SDS/PAGE. The anti-(fusion protein) antisera identified the 230 and 190 kDa bands as the B1 and B2 subunits respectively. Gold-labelled heparin-albumin bound to the 400, 340 and 190 kDa bands of human placental laminin and so did not unambiguously identify a single A subunit. The human placental laminin may contain a mixture of isoforms, with alternative subunits substituting for the A subunit.

Reconstituted basement membrane (matrigel) and laminin can enhance the tumorigenicity and the drug resistance of small cell lung cancer cell lines

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a fatal malignancy due to its propensity to metastasize widely and to reoccur after chemotherapy in a drug-resistant form. While most SCLC cell lines are anchorage independent for growth, laminin induced the attachment of five of six SCLC cell lines tested (NCI-N417, NCI-H345, NCI-H146, NCI-H187, NCI-H510, and NCI-H209). NCI-N417 SCLC cells adopted a flattened morphology on laminin, and a classic SCLC cell line (NCI-H345) demonstrated a neuron-like appearance while the other SCLC cell lines except NCI-H187 cells, attached but did not spread. Adhesion to laminin was associated with increased resistance to several cytotoxic drugs. Matrigel, an extract of basement membrane proteins, greatly accelerated tumor growth when coinjected with SCLC cells in athymic mice. A synthetic peptide from the B1 chain of laminin, cyclic-YIGSR (Tyr-Ile-Gly-Ser-Arg), inhibited laminin-induced SCLC cell adhesion and migration in vitro and reduced the size of the tumors they formed when coinjected with matrigel and YIGSR. These results suggest that the interaction of SCLC cells with laminin and possibly with other basement membrane proteins can enhance their tumorigenicity and drug resistance.

Tumor cell haptotaxis on immobilized N-acetylglucosamine gradients

Polyacrylamide surfaces covalently derivatized with quantifiable gradients of glycosides superimposed on a uniform adhesive background of coimmobilized Arg-Gly-Asp-containing adhesion peptide were synthesized. Substrate-directed cell redistribution (haptotaxis) was measured by seeding derivatized surfaces uniformly with B16F10 murine melanoma cells. After 4-32 hr, cells on gradients of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) redistributed markedly; higher cell densities were found at gel positions having a higher immobilized GlcNAc density. In contrast, cells seeded on otherwise identical gels having a uniform concentration of immobilized GlcNAc, or on gels having gradients of glucose or galactose, did not redistribute. Soluble inhibitors containing nonreducing terminal GlcNAc (but not those with terminal GalNAc or Gal) blocked redistribution on immobilized GlcNAc gradients. Redistribution was not affected by the presence or absence of serum in the medium. An affinity-purified antibody against beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase, a GlcNAc-binding protein reported to be expressed on B16F10 cell surfaces, attenuated GlcNAc-directed redistribution. When cells were seeded on surfaces derivatized with various uniform densities of immobilized GlcNAc coimmobilized with an invariant density of immobilized Arg-Gly-Asp-peptide, neither cell attachment nor proliferation rate were enhanced on the gels having a higher GlcNAc density. These data indicate that the redistribution on immobilized GlcNAc gradients was due to cell motility. Although gels derivatized with Arg-Gly-Asp-peptide alone supported strong B16F10 cell adhesion, surfaces derivatized with uniform high concentrations of GlcNAc did not. We conclude that cell recognition of substratum gradients that support, at best, weak adhesion (GlcNAc) on an otherwise uniform strongly adhesive background (Arg-Gly-Asp-peptide) may be sufficient to direct cell migration.