Cell motility and the extracellular matrix

Three-dimensional pore network characterization of reconstructed extracellular matrix

The extracellular matrix (ECM) has a fiber network that provides physical scaffolds to cells and plays important roles by regulating cellular functions. Some previous works characterized the mechanical and geometrical properties of the ECM fiber network using reconstituted collagen-I. However, the characterization of the porous structure of reconstituted collagen-I has been limited to the pore diameter measurement, and pore network extraction has not been applied to reconstituted collagen-I despite the importance of pore interconnectivity. Here, we aim to show the importance of characterizing the pore network of reconstituted collagen-I by comparing the pore networks of structures that have different fiber alignments. We show that the fiber alignment significantly changes the pore throat area but not the pore diameter. Also, we demonstrate that larger pore throats are directed in the direction of the fiber alignment, which may help in understanding the enhanced cell migration when fibers are aligned.

An organotypical in vitro model for vascular tissue remodelling and its application to study radiation effects

An organotypic in vitro model, to study vascular tissueremodeling, was evaluated as a function of culture period. Inorder to validate the model as a tool for studying vascularresponses to damage, a dose-response analysis to ionizingirradiation was included.Rat aortic rings were explanted in vitro after being irradiatedwith single doses of (60)Co gamma-rays, namely 0, 5, 10, 15, 20or 25 Gy. Irradiated and sham-irradiated aortic rings werecultured for 3 weeks. Explant outgrowth on an adhesivesubstrate was evaluated by macroscopical scoring, and ringsderived from each irradiation group together with theoutgrowths were fixed and embedded in paraffin after 2, 7, 14and 21 days. Bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, alpha smoothmuscle actin and collagen types I and III were scored onimmunohistochemically stained sections. For each studiedparameter, irradiated and sham-irradiated rings were compared.In cultures of sham-irradiated rings, alterations from acontractile towards a synthetic/migratory smooth muscle cellphenotype were confirmed. After 3 weeks, fullgrown cultures hadformed. Irradiation slowed down the phenotypical modifications.After 15 Gy, irradiation explant outgrowth was already retarded;after 25 Gy, the outgrowth was completely blocked. On the otherhand, a dose of 15 Gy or more induced an increased collagen Iproduction in the tunica media.In conclusion, the present organotypical in vitro model fits toanalyse dynamics in the original vascular tissues as well as inthe primary outgrowth. It enables to confirm features oftissular reorganization and effects of ionizing radiationdescribed in vivo.

Activation of the integrins alpha 5beta 1 and alpha v beta 3 and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) during arteriogenesis

Migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMC) are important events during arteriogenesis, but the underlying mechanism is still only partially understood. The present study investigates the expression of integrins α5β1 and vβ3 as well as focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and phosphorylated FAK (pY397), key mediators for cell migration and proliferation, in collateral vessels (CV) in rabbit hind limbs induced by femoral ligation or an arteriovenous (AV) shunt created between the distal femoral artery stump and the accompanying femoral vein by confocal immunofluorescence. In addition, the effect of the extracellular matrix components fibronectin (FN), laminin (LN), and Matrigel on expression of these focal adhesion molecules proliferation was studied in cultured SMCs. We found that: (1) in normal vessels (NV), both integrins α5β1 and αvβ3 were mainly expressed in endothelial cells, very weak in smooth muscle cells (SMC); (2) in CVs, both α5β1 and αvβ3 were significantly upregulated (P < 0.05); this was more evident in the shunt-side CVs, 1.5 and 1.3 times higher than that in the ligation side, respectively; (3) FAK and FAK(py397) were expressed in NVs and CVs in a similar profile as was α5β1 and αvβ3; (4) in vitro SMCs cultured on fibronectin (overexpressed in collaterals) expressed higher levels of FAK, FAK (pY397), α5β1, and αvβ3 than on laminin, whereas SMCs growing inside Matrigel expressed little of these proteins and showed no proliferation. In conclusion, our data demonstrate for the first time that the integrin-FAK signaling axis is activated in collateral vessels and that altered expression of FN and LN may play a crucial role in mediating the integrin-FAK signaling pathway activation. These findings explain a large part of the positive remodeling that collateral vessels undergo under the influence of high fluid shear stress.

Angiogenic effects of extracellular human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Tat protein and its role in the pathogenesis of AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma

The Tat protein of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 is a transactivator of viral gene expression that is required for virus replication and spread. Moreover, Tat is released by acutely HIV-infected cells via a leaderless secretory pathway and in a biologically active form that exerts effects on both HIV-infected and uninfected cells from different organs and systems. This review focuses on the activities of extracellular Tat protein on endothelial cells, on angiogenesis, and on the pathogenesis of AIDS-associated angioproliferative diseases such as Kaposi's sarcoma. In particular, we discuss results from different groups indicating that Tat mimics the proangiogenic activities of extracellular matrix molecules and that it enhances the effects of angiogenic factors.

Engineering of vascular ingrowth matrices: are protein domains an alternative to peptides?

Anastomotic intimal hyperplasia and surface thrombogenicity are the main reasons for the high failure rate of prosthetic small-diameter vascular grafts. While anastomotic intimal hyperplasia is a multifactorial event, ongoing surface thrombogenicity is primarily caused by the lack of an endothelium, even after years of clinical implantation. After decades of poorly performing synthetic artery-grafts, tissue engineering has emerged as a promising approach to generate biologically functional bio-synthetic hybrid grafts mimicking native arteries regarding the presence of an endothelial lining on the blood surface. "In vitro endothelialization" represented the first generation of such tissue-engineered vascular grafts, utilising cell culture techniques for the creation of a confluent autologous endothelium on ePTFE grafts. The clinical long-term results with this method in almost 200 patients are highly encouraging, showing patencies equal to vein grafts. Since "in vitro endothelialization" requires cell culture facilities, it will always be confined to large centres. Therefore, research of the 1990s turned to the development of spontaneously endothelializing implants, to make tissue-engineered grafts amenable to the entire vascular-surgical community. Apart from scaffold designs allowing transmural ingrowth, biological signalling through a facilitating ingrowth matrix holds a key to spontaneous endothelialization. In biological signalling, the increasingly deeper understanding of bio-active molecules and the discovery of domains and peptide sequences during the 1980s created the expectation in the 1990s that peptide signalling may be all that is needed. This present review highlights the possible problems associated with such a reductionist approach. Using the fibronectin molecule, we demonstrated that domains may be more suitable modules in tissue engineering than peptide sequences.

Inflammatory cytokines stimulate vascular smooth muscle cells locomotion and growth by enhancing alpha5beta1 integrin expression and function

The formation of atherosclerotic lesions requires the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells from the media into the intima of the artery and their proliferation. These events, which are preceded and accompanied by inflammation, are modulated by integrin receptors linking vascular smooth muscle cells to extracellular matrix molecules. Among them, fibronectin induces vascular smooth muscle cells to acquire the phenotype they show in the atherosclerotic plaque. Here we show that amounts of interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon-gamma as possibly released by activated immune cells infiltrating atherosclerotic lesions, upregulate vascular smooth muscle cell expression of the alpha5beta1 integrin, a fibronectin receptor. This improves vascular smooth muscle cell capability of migrating toward soluble or anchored fibronectin and of adhering to immobilized fibronectin. The latter effect, in turn, augments vascular smooth muscle cell proliferative response to mitogens, as suggested by the increase of intracellular pH. Finally, the effects that inflammatory cytokines have on vascular smooth muscle cell locomotion and growth, are specifically blocked by anti-alpha5beta1 antibodies. As fibronectin and alpha5beta1 levels are augmented in vivo in the atherosclerotic plaques, these findings support the use of integrin antagonists as potential adjuvants in atherosclerosis treatment.

Generation of monoclonal antibodies to cryptic collagen sites by using subtractive immunization

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a fundamental role in the regulation of normal and pathological processes. The most abundantly expressed component found in the ECM is collagen. Triple helical collagen is known to be highly resistant to proteolytic cleavage except by members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family of enzymes. To date little is known concerning the biochemical consequences of collagen metabolism on human diseases. This is due in part to the lack of specific reagents that can distinguish between proteolyzed and triple helical forms of collagen. Here we used the technique of Subtractive Immunization (SI) to generate two unique monoclonal antibodies (MAbs HUIV26 and HUI77) that react with denatured and proteolyzed forms of collagen, but show little if any reaction with triple helical collagen. Importantly, HUIV26 and HUI77 react with cryptic sites within the ECM of human melanoma tumors, demonstrating their utility for immunohistochemical analysis in vivo. Thus, the generation of these novel MAbs not only identify specific cryptic epitopes within triple helical collagen, but also provide important new reagents for studying the roles of collagen remodeling in normal as well as pathological processes.

Temporal expression of urokinase type plasminogen activator, tissue type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 in rhesus monkey corpus luteum during the luteal maintenance and regression

Proteolytic activity generated by the plasminogen activator (PA) system has been associated with many biological processes. Using a pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-induced rhesus monkey corpus luteum (CL) model, we have studied how urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), are temporally expressed in CL of rhesus monkey at the luteotropic and luteolytic periods. Slot blot analysis and in situ hybridization were performed to analyze the expression and distribution of uPA and PAI-1 messenger RNA (mRNA). Fibrin overlay was used to detect uPA and tPA activities. We found that uPA is the dominating PA in luteotropic CL in the monkey. Abundant expression of PAI-1 mRNA was detected. The highest expression of uPA and PAI-1 mRNA was observed at the luteotropic period, while their expression decreased approximately 50% at early luteal regression defined by considerably decreased serum progesterone levels, and remained at very low levels at the late stage of luteal regression. We also observed an increased tPA activity at the time of luteal regression. Moreover, the exogenous tPA could inhibit the progesterone production in cultured luteal cells from 13-day-old monkey CL. We also used LH receptor mRNA expression as a mark for the luteal phases. A highly expressed, evenly distributed LH receptor mRNA was detected in CL during the luteotropic phase, while its expression decreased at day 13 coinciding with the reduction of progesterone production. We conclude that proteolysis mediated by uPA and regulated by PAI-1 may play a role in the luteal maintenance, while tPA may participate in the luteal regression in the rhesus monkey.

Extracellular matrix proteins are potent agonists of human smooth muscle cell migration

PURPOSE

Extracellular matrix proteins can stimulate smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration by three distinct mechanisms: chemokinesis (nondirected migration in the presence of soluble protein), chemotaxis (directed migration toward soluble protein), and haptotaxis (directed migration toward insoluble, substrate-bound protein). This study investigates the effects of four prevalent extracellular matrix proteins (collagen types I and IV, fibronectin, and laminin), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on haptotaxis, chemotaxis, and chemokinesis of human SMCs. The role of large guanosine triphosphate-binding proteins (G-proteins) in the signaling mediating these effects is also evaluated.

METHODS

Human saphenous vein SMCs were used in all migration studies. Chemokinesis, chemotaxis, and haptotaxis to each of the matrix proteins were measured and compared with PDGF through the use of a 48-well microchemotaxis chamber. The role of G-proteins in matrix-induced SMC migration was studied with the modulators of G-protein function, cholera and pertussis toxins.

RESULTS

For all matrix proteins the relative strength of the various stimuli for migration was haptotaxis > chemotaxis > chemokinesis (p < 0.05). For all three stimuli collagen I and IV produced the most significant migration followed by fibronectin > PDGF-AB > laminin (p < 0.05). Pertussis toxin completely inhibited chemotaxis and partially inhibited haptotaxis by laminin but did not affect migration by other matrix proteins, whereas cholera toxin abolished migration in response to all four matrix proteins.

CONCLUSION

Matrix proteins, with the exception of laminin, provide a more significant stimulus for SMC locomotion than does the prototypical agonist, PDGF-AB. Of the three mechanisms by which migration can be stimulated, haptotaxis elicits the most profound effect. The importance of G-proteins as second messengers for migration varies with each matrix protein and with the mechanism of stimulation.

Ontogenies of messenger RNA encoding tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 and 2 within bovine periovulatory follicles and luteal tissue

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1 and 2 (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) are important regulators of extracellular matrix remodeling and also possess growth factor activity. The objective of these studies was to characterize TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA expression by bovine periovulatory follicles/ corpora hemorrhagica (Experiment 1) and luteal tissue (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, beef heifers (n = 27) were ovariectomized at-16 (n = 6), 0 (n = 5), 8 (n = 3), 16 (n = 4), 24 (n = 4), or 48 (n = 5) hr relative to a gonadotropin-releasing hormone induced gonadotropin surge (40 hr after prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced luteolysis). Total cellular RNA was isolated from the large steroidogenically active follicle or corpus hemorrhagicum obtained from each animal, and the expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA was subsequently examined by northern and dot blot analysis. The expression of TIMP-1 or TIMP-2 mRNa did not differ in preovulatory follicles collected at -16 vs. 0 hr. Concentrations of both TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA (picograms per microgram of tissue DNA) were increased (P < 0.05) at 8 hr postgonadotropin surge, had declined to presurge levels by 24 hr (P < 0.05), and were increased (P < 0.05) in corpora hemorrhagica collected at 48 hr after a gonadotropin surge. In Experiment 2, corpora lutea were collected from beef heifers on Days 4, 10, 15 (n = 4 each), or 19 (n = 3) postestrus (Day 0 = estrus). Concentrations of TIMP-1 mRNA (picograms per microgram of tissue DNA) were greater in corpora lutea collected on Day 4 (P < 0.05) vs. Day 10, 15, or 19. Concentrations of TIMP-2 mRNA increased (P < 0.05) from Day 4 to 15 and decreased (P < 0.05) by Day 19. We conclude that: 1) during the periovulatory period, the ontogenies of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA expression are similar, whereas 2) during luteal phase, TIMP-1 mRNA expression is maximal during the early luteal phase, whereas concentrations of TIMP-2 mRNA peak during the midluteal phase. TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 may play important roles in the regulation of extracellular matrix remodeling during the periovulatory period and the subsequent luteal phase.

Role of cytokines and growth factors in promoting the local recurrence of breast cancer

The pathogenesis of local recurrence in breast cancer is not well understood. Breast-conserving surgery is particularly prone to local recurrence as it leaves behind breast tissue that may harbour occult cancer, and lends itself to enhanced intraoperative shedding of cancer cells due to narrower resection margins and transection of lymphatic channels. A review of clinical breast cancer studies as well as experimental research strongly suggests that these persisting cancerous cells are unlikely to develop into clinically evident disease if their environment remains unstimulated. However, an inordinately high local recurrence rate occurs at the surgical scar, and such recurrence must be triggered by the release of growth factors and cytokines into the healing wound. These factors can stimulate any available cancer cells which express the proper growth factor receptors. Perioperative strategies to neutralize this tumour cell-growth factor interaction should maximize local control.

Laminin responsiveness is associated with changes in fibroblast morphology, motility, and anchorage-independent growth: cell system for examining the interaction between laminin and EGF signaling pathways

Laminin can influence the adhesion, differentiation, and motility of several cell types, including epithelial and neural cells. In addition, laminin, which contains an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like motif, can stimulate DNA synthesis in fibroblasts possessing the EGF receptor, but laminin does not compete for EGF binding. To further investigate laminin action in fibroblasts, and the relationship between laminin and EGF receptor function, we have developed a system wherein cells containing laminin-binding activity were cloned from a mouse fibroblast cell line (B82L-wt) that cannot adhere to laminin but that have been transfected with the wild-type human EGF receptor. Although only the isolated clones can efficiently attach to laminin-coated plates, all the cells can adhere to plastic, fibronectin, and collagen l, and all exhibit comparable levels of cell surface-associated laminin. Ligand-binding assays showed that the cells with laminin attachment activity possess high-affinity EGF binding (Kd approximately 0.4 nM), and all express a similar level of the human EGF receptor. However, when compared to the B82L-wt cells, the cells with laminin-binding activity exhibit altered morphology, anchorage-independent growth, and motility. Specifically, the morphology of the fibroblasts possessing laminin binding activity appears more elongated and they spread more extensively on plastic plates. Analysis of their growth in soft agar revealed that the clones have a 2-5-fold increase in colony formation in comparison to the B82L-wt cells. The cells possessing laminin attachment ability also exhibit laminin-induced motility, and this movement is directional (chemotaxis) rather than random (chemokinesis), indicating functional laminin receptors and signaling pathways. To examine the specific laminin receptors involved in these effects, the influence of anti-integrin subunit antibodies on cell adhesion and migration was evaluated. These studies showed that an anti-alpha 6 integrin antibody can completely inhibit the clonal cells' attachment and migration to laminin, and anti-alpha 6 immunoblots revealed that only the clones express measurable levels of alpha 6. These data indicate that alpha 6-containing integrins contribute to the laminin-mediated attachment and motility of these clones and that this system may also influence the morphology and anchorage-independent growth of these fibroblasts. In addition, these cells provide a unique system for examining the interaction between EGF and laminin receptor action.

The in vitro motility of human gliomas increases with increasing grade of malignancy

BACKGROUND

Malignant gliomas are a highly invasive disease with a dismal prognosis despite aggressive therapeutic interventions.

METHODS

The authors tested the hypothesis that increasing in vitro motility of human glial tumors correlates with increasing grade of malignancy. A radial dish assay was used to quantitatively assess the brain tumor cell motility of 14 low passage cell lines derived from human glial tumors of varied malignancy, and 3 cell lines derived from human glia. The egress of cells from a central region of high tumor cell density to a region of lower tumor cell density was determined at various time points. A motility coefficient (MC), the slope of distance traveled against time, was generated by simple linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

The MC increased with the increased histologic grade of malignancy. Generation of a t-statistic was used to determine the significance of differences in motility among 5 histopathologic groups: 10 glioblastoma (World Health Organization Grade IV) cell lines (mean MC, 0.00396), 2 mixed anaplastic oligoastrocytoma (Grade III) cell lines (mean MC, 0.00382), 1 anaplastic astrocytoma (Grade III) cell line (mean MC, 0.00295), 1 Grade I glioma cell line (mean MC, 0.00206), and 3 human glial cell lines (mean MC, 0.00110).

CONCLUSIONS

The radial dish assay provided a reproducible method for quantitatively assessing brain tumor cell motility. The higher MC observed with the malignant human glioma cell lines correlated with the tendency of these tumors to invade into adjacent brain tissue. The potential to inhibit glial tumor motility may provide an important therapeutic avenue in the future.

Fibroblast subpopulations as accelerators of tumor progression: the role of migration stimulating factor

Tumor progression is a relatively indolent process, with many years commonly intervening between the inception of an initiating genetic lesion and the development of overt malignant disease. We suggest that the perturbation of normal epithelial-mesenchymal interactions caused by the inappropriate presence of fibroblast subpopulations displaying various 'fetal-like' phenotypic characteristics may significantly alter the kinetics of tumor progression and hence enhance susceptibility to cancer development. In this communication, we review our own data indicating the presence of fetal-like fibroblasts in cancer patients and put these observations in the context of similar published reports. We then discuss our interpretation of these findings, emphasising the possible direct involvement of fetal-like fibroblasts in cancer pathogenesis and putting forward an epigenetic 'clonal modulation' model to account for their presence in cancer patients.

The urokinase receptor is required for human monocyte chemotaxis in vitro

Mononuclear phagocytes (Mphi) produce urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and also express a specific cell-surface receptor for urokinase, uPAR. The concomitant expression of these proteins provides a mechanism by which Mphi can degrade extracellular matrix proteins during directed cell migration. In this study, we sought to determine if uPAR plays a role in Mphi chemotaxis that is distinct from its role in matrix proteolysis. Exposing adherent monocytes to a chemotactic gradient causes plasma membrane uPAR to localize strongly to the leading edge of cell migration. Adherence alone or exposure to FMLP had no effect on uPAR expression. Using Boyden chamber chemotaxis assays, we demonstrate that treating mononuclear cells with an anti-uPAR mAb (either as an intact mAb or F[ab']2) ablates chemotaxis induced by FMLP and monocyte chemotactic peptide-1 (P < 0.001). Inactivating the catalytic activity of uPAR-bound uPA had no effect on chemotaxis. Similarly, blocking uPAR expression with an antisense oligonucleotide to uPAR completely ablates chemotaxis, but blocking uPA expression with an antisense oligonucleotide to uPA has a minimal effect. We therefore demonstrate that expression and unimpeded function of uPAR plays an obligate role in M phi chemotaxis by mechanisms that are largely independent of its ligand, uPA. Combined with its known role in mediating pericellular proteolysis, these observations demonstrate that uPAR is essential for both locomotion and traversing tissue barriers during M phi migration.

Cytokine control of cell motility: modulation and mediation by the extracellular matrix

Cytokines are multifunctional regulators of cell behaviour affecting such diverse activities as cell proliferation, gene expression and motility. Matrix macromolecules influence a similarly wide range of cell functions. A review of the available literature suggests that cytokines may affect cell motility by (a) directly influencing the motility apparatus, and (b) indirectly as a consequence of the altered expression of genes coding for matrix macromolecules, their respective cell surface receptors and matrix degrading enzymes and their inhibitors. Conversely, the composition and supramolecular organisation of the matrix plays a central role in defining cellular response to potentially multifunctional cytokines. Such complex and reciprocal interactions between cytokines and the matrix elicit both positive and negative reiterative feedback loops which must be taken into account when interpreting the results of migration assays in vitro and extrapolating them to in vivo processes.

Effects of extracellular matrix components on cell locomotion

The extracellular matrix (ecm), which is composed of collagens, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans, has emerged as an important regulator of cell locomotion. This review describes some of the mechanisms by which the ecm may regulate locomotion, focusing primarily on cell extension and lamellae formation. Ecm-receptor interactions form an important part of cell recognition of ecm. Such interactions can result in altered cell adhesion, signal transduction, and cytoskeletal organization, all of which impact on cell locomotion. It is important to note that although the effects of single ecm components have been studied, generally, the cell is likely to perceive ecm in vivo as a macromolecular complex. It will fall to future work to define how complexes of ecm regulate cell behavior. Because of our own particular research bias, we focus on reviewing the role of fibronectin, integrins, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronan, and hyaluronan receptors in the regulation of cell locomotion and examine their effect on adhesion, signal transduction, and cytoskeletal integrity. Cytoskeleton assembly mechanisms, particularly those that might be regulated by the ecm, are also described. These events are summarized in a working model of ecm-promoted locomotion.

Attachment to extracellular matrix molecules by cells differing in the expression of osteoblastic traits

Two sets of clonal cell populations differing in the expression of osteoblastic traits, the rat osteosarcoma cell lines ROS 17/2.8 and ROS 25/1 and the immortalized fetal rat calvarial cell lines RCT-1 and RCT-3, were compared for their ability to attach to a series of extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents in vitro. Both osteoblastic (ROS 17/2.8, RCT-3) and nonosteoblastic (ROS 25/1, RCT-1) cell lines attached in a time- and concentration-dependent manner to plates coated with fibronectin (FN), osteopontin (OP), type I collagen (Col I), type IV collagen (Col IV), and laminin (LN) but only weakly to osteocalcin (OC) and thrombospondin (TSP). In both systems, the osteoblastic and nonosteoblastic clones attached identically to FN. Both ROS 17/2.8 and ROS 25/1 attached to similar molar amounts of substrate with the same preference order: FN > LN > Col I > or = Col IV. Maximal ROS 17/2.8 attachment to OP was > or = Col I but required approximately 2.5 times more substrate. ROS 25/1 attached less effectively than ROS 17/2.8 to most non-FN substrates. RCT-3 cells attached similarly to ROS 17/2.8 except that the preference order for Col I and LN was reversed and attachment to OP was lower than for ROS 17/2.8 RCT-1 cells attached best to Col I rather than FN, and equaled or surpassed RCT-3 in attachment to other non-FN substrates. Thus in these experimental systems, cells expressing an osteoblast-like phenotype exhibited generally similar ECM attachment properties. Their nonosteoblastic counterparts recognized the same spectrum of ECM constituents but differed from the osteoblastic cells and from each other in the effectiveness of their attachment to substrates other than FN.

The role of fibronectin in tumor implantation at surgical sites

Fibronectins are a family of glycoproteins with modular functional domains. They mediate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions which are important in embryogenesis, wound healing, metastasis and other processes. We present data on the influence of fibronectin on wound implantation of a murine mammary carcinoma line, TA3Ha. Fibronectin used in these studies was derived from bovine plasma, human serum, human foreskin fibroblasts, and mouse embryo cultures. TA3Ha cells rarely form tumors in the liver of syngeneic mice when injected intravenously but after hepatic wedge resection, 45% (107/240) of the mice develop tumors in the hepatic wound. Wound implantation is markedly reduced when the cells are pre-exposed to 200 micrograms/ml bovine plasma fibronectin (13%, P = 0.007), human serum fibronectin (0%, P = 0.02), human cellular fibronectin (0%, P = 0.02), or mouse cellular fibronectin (0%, P = 0.04). Lung colonization is also reduced by these fibronectins. These effects are not due to a cytotoxic action of fibronectin, since intraperitoneally injected fibronectin-treated cells form ascites tumor as effectively as do control untreated cells. Local application of a solution containing 0.25 mg/ml mouse cellular fibronectin to the hepatic wound reduces the frequency of tumor implantation from 45% to 5% (1/21, P = 0.001). No tumor implantation inhibition is seen when only suspending medium or albumin in suspending medium is used. The mechanism by which topical application of fibronectin reduces hepatic wound implantation of tumor cells is unclear, but this finding raises an exciting possibility of preventing local recurrence of cancer.

Effect of surface processing on the attachment, orientation, and proliferation of human gingival fibroblasts on titanium

The adhesion, orientation, and proliferation of human gingival fibroblasts was studied on electropolished (elpTi), etched (etchTi), and sandblasted (sblTi) titanium surfaces. The texture, chemical state, and composition of the titanium surfaces were analyzed using a surface tracing instrument and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. Considerable differences were evident in the surface texture and chemical composition of the differently treated titanium plates. Electropolishing produced the smoothest and cleanest surface. Human gingival fibroblasts attached, spread, and proliferated on all titanium surfaces. However, cells on elpTi exhibited an extremely flat morphology and seemed to form cellular bridges with adjacent cells, whereas the etchTi and sblTi surfaces harbored both round and flat cells with many long processes. Cells on elpTi appeared to grow in thick layers with no specific orientation, whereas on etchTi surfaces they were migrating along the parallel, irregular minor grooves caused by mechanical polishing, and on sblTi surfaces they seemed to grow in clusters. Stress-fiber type actin bundles and vinculin-containing focal adhesions were present in cells spreading on elpTi and etchTi surfaces but not in cells spreading on sblTi surfaces. Cell shape, orientation, and proliferation appear to depend on the texture of the titanium surface and probably also on the properties of the oxide layer and adjacent bulk material. Our findings suggest that smooth or finely grooved titanium surfaces could be optimal in implants adjacent to soft tissues as they support the attachment and growth of human gingival fibroblasts.

Effects of TGF beta 1 on the proliferation and differentiation of an immortalized astrocyte cell line: relationship with extracellular matrix

The astrocyte cell line (C.LT.T.1.1.), which is immortalized and has retained a normal density-dependent regulation of growth, is a suitable model for studying the relationships between proliferation, differentiation, and the production of extracellular matrix. The growth factor TGF beta 1 was used to modulate these processes. When added to proliferative cells, it inhibited growth and caused morphological changes. It also suppressed the growth arrest at confluence, so that the cells formed multilayers of parallel spindle-shaped cells. Whereas untreated control cells expressed progressively the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) after arrest of multiplication, the addition of TGF beta 1 to proliferative cells prevented GFAP expression and accumulation of its mRNA. Concomitantly, it increased the amounts of laminin, fibronectin, and collagens synthesized during the growth phase and greatly altered the composition and the structure of the matrix deposited at confluence. In contrast, when added after cell differentiation had begun, TGF beta 1 did not alter the appearance of the matrix whereas it still stimulated, but to a lesser extent, extracellular matrix components production. The results show that TGF beta 1 prevents the transition from the proliferating to the differentiating state and correlatively alters the composition and structure of the extracellular matrix.

A GTPase controls cell-substrate adhesion in Xenopus XTC fibroblasts

Cell-substrate adhesion is crucial at various stages of development and for the maintenance of normal tissues. Little is known about the regulation of these adhesive interactions. To investigate the role of GTPases in the control of cell morphology and cell-substrate adhesion we have injected guanine nucleotide analogs into Xenopus XTC fibroblasts. Injection of GTP gamma S inhibited ruffling and increased spreading, suggesting an increase in adhesion. To further investigate this, we made use of GRGDSP, a peptide which inhibits binding of integrins to vitronectin and fibronectin. XTC fibroblasts injected with non-hydrolyzable analogs of GTP took much more time to round up than mock-injected cells in response to treatment with GRGDSP, while GDP beta S-injected cells rounded up in less time than controls. Injection with GTP gamma S did not inhibit cell rounding induced by trypsin however, showing that cell contractility is not significantly affected by the activation of GTPases. These data provide evidence for the existence of a GTPase which can control cell-substrate adhesion from the cytoplasm. Treatment of XTC fibroblasts with the phorbol ester 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate reduced cell spreading and accelerated cell rounding in response to GRGDSP, which is essentially opposite to the effect exerted by non-hydrolyzable GTP analogs. These results suggest the existence of at least two distinct pathways controlling cell-substrate adhesion in XTC fibroblasts, one depending on a GTPase and another one involving protein kinase C.

Regionally disturbed production of cartilage proteoglycans in malformed fetuses from diabetic rats

Fetuses from normal and manifestly diabetic rats were obtained on pregnancy day 20. The fetuses from the diabetic rats were of normal or malformed morphology. Three tissue groups were dissected free; costal cartilage, the hard tissue of the rear, and of the frontal portion of the mandible. These tissues were maintained in vitro for 24 h during which time they were labelled with [35S]sulphate. After the culture period the tissues were extracted with guanidine HCl and the resulting residues were further extracted with alkali. The culture medium was saved and its macromolecular content was compared to that of the extracts. The proteoglycans recovered in all extracts eluted at two distinct positions after chromatography on a Sepharose CL-2B column (peak I: Kav approximately 0.4, and peak II: Kav approximately 0.8), but the elution patterns were markedly different in extracts from various tissues. Thus, in rib cartilage, the majority of the labelled proteoglycans were located in peak I (approximately 90%) with no difference between extracts of fetuses from normal and diabetic pregnancies. In extracts of mandibular cartilaginous tissue from normal rat offspring the peak I percentage (60-80%) was lower than in the rib cartilage extracts. In the extracts from the frontal portion of malformed mandibles of fetuses of diabetic rats, the peak I percentage (35 +/- 21%) was the lowest of all recorded and the only one to significantly differ from the other percentages in its (the frontal mandible) group. The results show an association between a congenital malformation, micrognathia, and a disturbance in the production of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans in the malformed region.

Heterogeneity amongst fibroblasts in the production of migration stimulating factor (MSF): implications for cancer pathogenesis

Fetal skin fibroblasts migrate into 3D collagen gels to a significantly greater extent than do adult cells. This enhanced motility of fetal fibroblasts appears to result from the production of a "migration stimulating factor" (MSF) which is not made by their normal adult counterparts. Adult skin fibroblasts retain responsiveness to MSF and cells exposed to this factor achieve the elevated levels of migration characteristic of fetal cells. MSF has been purified to homogeneity, has an apparent molecular mass of 70 kD and has been further characterized in terms of a number of biochemical parameters. Studies concerned with the mechanism of action of MSF indicate that it stimulates the production of a high molecular weight class of hyaluronic acid (HA). Concurrent exposure of cells to Streptomyces hyaluronidase blocks the stimulation of adult fibroblast migration by MSF. In a related series of experiments, we have shown that TGF-beta inhibits the effects of MSF on both cell migration and HA production. Taken together, these data suggest that the stimulation of fibroblast migration by MSF is dependent upon (and may directly result from) a primary induction of HA synthesis. We have previously reported that skin fibroblasts obtained from patients with sporadic and familial breast cancer, as well as the unaffected first-degree relatives of familial breast cancer patients, commonly display a fetal-like migratory phenotype. Subsequent work has indicated that (a) these fetal-like cells also produce MSF, and (b) detectable levels of MSF are present in the serum of sporadic breast cancer patients both prior to and following surgical resection of the primary tumor mass. On the basis of these and related observations, we have put forward an hypothesis suggesting that the disruption in normal epithelial-mesenchymal interactions caused by the persistent production of MSF by fibroblasts in the adult may contribute directly to the pathogenesis of an epithelial cancer. The demonstration of aberrant fibroblasts in sporadic cancer patients (both in our own and independent studies) is not consistent with the "germ-line genetic lesion" model commonly invoked to account for the presence of such cells in patients with hereditary cancer syndromes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)