Cell behaviour and molecular mechanisms of cell-cell adhesion

The Effect of UW Solution and Its Components on the Collagenase Digestion of Human and Porcine Pancreas

University of Wisconsin (UW) solution is used extensively as a cold storage solution during the procurement and transport of the pancreas prior to islet isolation. However, it has been observed that UW inhibits the collagenase digestion phase of human but not porcine islet isolation, resulting in poor islet yields and islets of poor viability. The aim of this study was, therefore, to confirm this species difference and to determine which components of UW are responsible for the inhibition in the human. In the initial experiment, blocks of human and porcine pancreas (n = 7) were incubated in test tubes containing collagenase at a concentration of 4 mg/mL at 37°C dissolved in 4 mL of either Hanks' solution or UW. Every 5 min the tubes were manually shaken and the degree of tissue dissociation scored on a scale of + and +++. Our results confirm the inhibition of collagenase digestion in the human but not the pig. Using the same methodology, we then investigated the components of UW that were causing the observed inhibition in the human pancreas (n = 7). This time the collagenase was dissolved in individual or combinations of UW components. Using Hank's as a control, the results were then expressed as a median ratio. The components found to be most inhibitory were magnesium, the Na+/K+ ratio, hydroxyethyl starch (HES), and adenosine. Allopurinol in combination with either lactobionate or glutathione was markedly inhibitory (i.e., median ratio 1.8 and 1.9, respectively). The most inhibitory solution tested was a combination of the three components raffinose, glutathione, and lactobionate (median ratio 2.1). This combination was almost as inhibitory as UW itself (median ratio 2.7). These findings are essential for the development of effective cold-storage solutions for the human pancreas that do not inhibit the subsequent collagenase digestion phase of islet isolation.

Soft tissue and epithelial models

The applicability of a biomaterial for the manufacturing of oral implants is determined by its physicochemical and geometric surface properties. Research, therefore, is concerned with the cellular reactions that occur when an implant material comes into contact with body tissues. For permucosal oral implants, this involves both the reaction of bone and gingival cells. In vitro cell culturing--including the use of various analytical techniques like light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and digital image analysis--is a good tool whereby investigators can obtain more insight into the relevant components of implant-tissue adhesion. In the current overview, the role of cell models in oral implant research is discussed, specifically with reference to responses of epithelial cells and fibroblasts.

Cell adhesion and histocompatibility in sponges

Sponges are the lowest extant metazoan phylum and for about a century they have been used as a model system to study cell adhesion. There are three classes of molecules in the extracellular matrix of vertebrates: collagens, proteoglycans, and adhesive glycoproteins, all of them have been identified in sponges. Species-specific cell recognition in sponges is mediated by supramolecular proteoglycan-like complexes termed aggregation factors, still to be identified in higher animals. Polyvalent glycosaminoglycan interactions are involved in the species-specificity, representing one of the few known examples of a regulatory role for carbohydrates. Aggregation factors mediate cell adhesion via a bifunctional activity that combines a calcium-dependent self-interaction of aggregation factor molecules plus a calcium-independent heterophilic interaction with cell surface receptors. Important cases of cell adhesion are the phenomena involved in histocompatibility reactions. A long-standing prediction has been that the evolutionary ancestors of histocompatibility systems might be found among primitive cell-cell interaction molecules. A surprising characteristic of sponges, considering their low phylogenetic position, is that they possess an exquisitely sophisticated histocompatibility system. Any grafting between two different sponge individuals (allograft) is almost invariably incompatible in the many species investigated, exhibiting a variety of transitive qualitatively and quantitatively different responses, which can only be explained by the existence of a highly polymorphic gene system. Individual variability of protein and glycan components in the aggregation factor of the red beard sponge, Microciona prolifera, matches the elevated sponge alloincompatibility, suggesting an involvement of the cell adhesion system in sponge allogeneic reactions and, therefore, an evolutionary relationship between cell adhesion and histocompatibility systems.

Intercellular adhesion mediated by human muscle neural cell adhesion molecule: effects of alternative exon use

Mouse 3T3 fibroblasts were permanently transfected with cDNAs encoding isoforms of the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) present in human skeletal muscle and brain. Parental and transfected cells were then used in a range of adhesion assays. In the absence of external shear forces, transfection with cDNAs encoding either transmembrane or glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked N-CAM species significantly increased the intercellular adhesiveness of 3T3 cells in suspension. Transfection of a cDNA encoding a secreted N-CAM isoform was without effect on adhesion. Cells transfected with cDNAs containing or lacking the muscle-specific domain 1 sequence, a four-exon group spliced into the muscle but not the brain GPI-linked N-CAM species, were equally adhesive in the assays used. We also demonstrate that N-CAM-mediated intercellular adhesiveness is inhibited by 0.2 mg/ml heparin; but, at higher concentrations, reduced adhesion of parental cells was also seen. Coaggregation of fluorescently labeled and unlabeled cell populations was performed and measured by comparing their distribution within aggregates with distributions that assume nonspecific (random) aggregation. These studies demonstrate that random aggregation occurs between transfected cells expressing the transmembrane and GPI-linked N-CAM species and between parental cells and those expressing the secreted N-CAM isoform. Other combinations of these populations tested exhibited partial adhesive specificity, indicating homophilic binding between surface-bound N-CAM. Thus, the approach exploited here allows for a full analysis of the requirements, characteristics, and specificities of the adhesive behavior of individual N-CAM isoforms.

Carbohydrate and glycoprotein specificity of two endogenous cerebellar lectins

Two endogenous cerebellar mannose binding lectins have been isolated in an active form by immunoaffinity chromatography employing their respective immobilized antibodies. One of them, termed cerebellar soluble lectin (CSL), was extracted in the absence of detergents, whereas the other, called Receptor 1 (R1), was soluble only in the presence of detergents. Tests of inhibition of agglutination of erythrocytes were performed with mono-, oligo and polysaccharides, as well as glycoconjugates of known structures. On the basis of agglutinating activities these 2 lectins are different from the previously reported lectins in brain, since they were not inhibited by galactosides and lactosides and were only marginally inhibited by glycosaminoglycans. CSL and R1 were better inhibited by mannose-rich glycopeptides as compared to the corresponding oligosaccharides. The different inhibition patterns obtained with glycans of known structures indicated that these lectins are very discriminative. Although CSL and R1 have similar specificities, they differed in their binding properties towards glycopeptides of ovalbumin. Both lectins showed considerable affinity for endogenous cerebellar glycopeptides, also rich in mannose. These glycopeptides belong to a few endogenous Con A-binding cerebellar glycoprotein subunits and are not present on other endogenous Con A-binding glycoproteins. In the forebrain, where CSL and R1 were also present, at least some of the glycoproteins interacting with the lectins were different from that observed in the cerebellum. Our data overall suggest that specific cell recognition in the nervous system could be invoked via the interactions between widely distributed lectins and cell-specific glycoproteins.

Requirements for the Ca2+-independent component in the initial intercellular adhesion of C2 myoblasts

Using a sensitive and quantitative adhesion assay, we have studied the initial stages of the intercellular adhesion of the C2 mouse myoblast line. After dissociation in low levels of trypsin in EDTA, C2 cells can rapidly reaggregate by Ca2+-independent mechanisms to form large multicellular aggregates. If cells are allowed to recover from dissociation by incubation in defined media, this adhesive system is augmented by a Ca2+-dependent mechanism with maximum recovery seen after 4 h incubation. The Ca2+-independent adhesion system is inhibited by preincubation of cell monolayers with cycloheximide before dissociation. Aggregation is also reduced after exposure to monensin, implicating a role for surface-translocated glycoproteins in this mechanism of adhesion. In coaggregation experiments using C2 myoblasts and 3T3 fibroblasts in which the Ca2+-dependent adhesion system was inactivated, no adhesive specificity between the two cell types was seen. Although synthetic peptides containing the RGD sequence are known to inhibit cell-substratum adhesion in various cell types, incubation of C2 myoblasts with the integrin-binding tetrapeptide, RGDS, greatly stimulated the Ca2+-independent aggregation of these cells while control analogs had no effect. These results show that a Ca2+-independent mechanism alone is sufficient to allow for the rapid formation of multicellular aggregates in a mouse myoblast line, and that many of the requirements and perturbants of the Ca2+-independent system of intercellular myoblast adhesion are similar to those of the Ca2+-dependent adhesion mechanisms.

Ultrastructural characteristics of the contact zones between Langerhans cells and lymphocytes

The present work was carried out to look for the ultrastructural substrate of the contact zones between Langerhans cells and lymphocytes. A high resolution electron microscopic analysis of the contact zones between Langerhans cells and lymphocytes was performed. The material used for this study was obtained from experimental contact dermatitis in mice, and human cervical squamous carcinoma and mycosis fungoides. Three types of cell-cell binding were found. Type I is a junction-like structure characterized by the presence of intercellular bridges. It is suggested that this contact might represent a fixation mechanism between the two cells. Type II is characterized by a glycocalyx-glycocalyx continuity. An immunological function--recognition and antigen presentation--is proposed for this type of contact. Type III is a septilaminar tight contact area which seems to be a gap junction. It is suggested that all these types of physical contact might be the morphological expression of interaction between antigen presenting cells and lymphocytes.

Intercellular contacts in tumours of the vascular smooth muscle cells in man

Electron microscopy has been used to study the cell to cell and cell to stroma contacts between smooth muscle cells (SMC) in normal vessels, angiomyolipoma and well and poorly differentiated vascular leiomyosarcoma. Micrographs were examined with a semiautomatic image analysis system. The length of the cell borders was calculated and the type and number of contacts per 100 micron cell perimeter and per 100 cells were determined. In all cases there was a predominance of simple appositions. Intermediate junctions, nexus junctions, interdigitations, intermediate contacts and junctional interdigitations were less frequently observed. In general, as the SMC become malignant and less differentiated the number of cell to stroma attachments decreases markedly and the intercellular contacts increase slightly.

Ultrastructural localization of heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfates associated with granulopoiesis in embryonic chick bone marrow

Sulfated glycoconjugates were ultrastructurally localized within embryonic chick marrow by using the high iron diamine-silver proteinate stain. Stain was concentrated in the extravascular, granulopoietic compartment, indicating that granulopoiesis, but not erythropoiesis, proceeded in a highly sulfated environment. It was likely that most of the stainable material represented sulfated proteoglycans since staining was abrogated by predigesting tissue with enzymes and other treatments known to degrade specific glycosaminoglycan chains. Chondroitinase/hyaluronidase digestion resulted in the removal of most of the stainable material associated with the extracellular matrix and a portion of the stainable material associated with fibroblastic cell surfaces. Unaffected material lay in close proximity to fibroblastic cell membranes. Heparitinase/heparinase digestion had essentially the opposite effect. Sulfated material associated with matrix components was largely unaffected, but the fibroblastic plasmalemmal material was now absent. These results suggest that there are at least two categories of sulfated proteoglycans in the granulopoietic compartment, each differentially distributed. The plasmalemmal material likely represented heparan sulfate which in this tissue appeared to be associated in a uniform layer with fibroblastic stromal cell membranes and not with blood or endothelial cell membranes. Material identified as chondroitin sulfates was found within patches of amorphous matrix that was located on fibroblastic stromal cell surfaces and that was interspersed with fibrils in the extracellular matrix. Chondroitin sulfates were sparsely distributed on granulocytic cell surfaces.

Inhibition of the adhesion of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites to human erythrocytes by carbohydrates

We have analyzed the effect of 14 carbohydrates (seven monosaccharides, four disaccharides and three aminosugars) on the adhesion of Entamoeba histolytica HK9 trophozoites to human red blood cells (RBC). Amebal adhesion was significantly inhibited by five of these carbohydrates with the following order of potency: lactose (Lac) greater than N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNac) greater than melibiose (Mel) greater than galactose (Gal) greater than N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). The mean inhibitory concentration of Lac was 2.66 mM. Adhesion increased by 20% in the presence of 5.5 mM glucose (Glc). Inhibition of the adhesion was lower in the absence rather than in the presence of Glc only with Gal-NAc, whereas it was similar with Lac, Mel, Gal, and GlcNAc in both cases. The initial rate of amebal adhesion decreased 27% by RBC fixation, but adhesion to fixed RBC was also inhibited by the same five carbohydrates. Inhibition was higher in mixtures containing Lac, GalNAc, and Mel, than with the same isolated carbohydrates; Lac + Gal-NAc was the most potent mixture. Inhibition decreased when Lac, GalNAc, and Mel were mixed either with Gal or GlcNAc. We conclude that E. histolytica adhesion depends on amebal metabolic energy generated from Glc and on several surface components of RBC, some of which are inactivated with glutaraldehyde whereas others are inhibited by sugars containing Gal, GlcNAc, or Gal-NAc residues.

Cell interactions during the in vitro neoformation of fetal rat pancreatic islets

As shown by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and membrane labeling analysis, the in vitro neoformation of rat pancreatic islets arose from two main processes: a budding from explants containing duct cells, and a competition between endocrine monolayers and fibroblasts on the culture substratum. The stronger cytoskeleton of fibroblasts and their higher adhesive properties, probably related to their more homogeneous distribution of membrane charges, may explain the spherization of the islets. The pure endocrine cell population of neoformed islets was composed mainly of insulin-secreting cells, and the other types of endocrine cells were distributed in the periphery. Preformed extracellular matrices of osmotically disrupted fibroblasts enhanced the yield of the cultures by increasing the anchorage of endocrine cells and slowing down the fibroblastic growth.

Tissue culture studies of muscle disorders: Part 1. Techniques, cell growth, morphology, cell surface

Tissue culture has been used extensively in studies of human inherited disorders, and its application in the field of the neuromuscular disorders has increased rapidly in recent years. This review, covering the period 1977 to 1984, deals with tissue culture studies of both human and animal muscle disorders, although Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) figures prominently because of the overwhelming interest in that disorder. The review is in two parts. In the first part, I discuss technical innovations in the field, the morphology and growth of cells, and a variety of studies related to the cell surface. Important findings in relation to DMD include reports of abnormal growth rates and reduced lifespan of DMD cells, hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, abnormal cell-to-cell and cell-to-substratum adhesion, and a more "fluid" cell membrane. However, these findings are controversial or have so far been reported only by single laboratories.

Thermodynamics of cell adhesion. II. Freely mobile repellers

The equilibrium adhesion of a cell or vesicle to a substrate is analyzed in a theoretical model in which two types of mobile molecules in the cell membrane are of interest: receptors that can form bonds with fixed ligands in the substrate and repellers that repel the substrate. If the repulsion between the repeller molecule and substrate is greater than kT, there is substantial redistribution of the repellers from the contact area. Coexisting equilibrium states are observed having comparable free energies (a) with unstretched bonds and repeller redistribution and (b) with stretched bonds and partial redistribution.

Cell-cell recognition of host surfaces by pathogens. The adsorption of maize (Zea mays) root mucilage by surfaces of pathogenic fungi

The adsorption of radioactive mucilage by pathogenic fungi was shown to be dependent upon time, the composition of mucilage, the type of fungal surface (conidia, hyphae, hyphal apices), fungal species, pH and bivalent cations. All fungal adhesins were inactivated by either proteinase or polysaccharase treatments. Adsorption was not inhibited by the numberous mono-, di- and oligo-saccharides that were tested individually, but it was inhibited absolutely by several polysaccharides. This suggested that adsorption of mucilage by pathogens involved conformational and ionic interactions between plant and fungal polymers but not fungal lectins bound to sugar residues of mucilage. Several fractionation schemes showed that pathogens bound only the most acidic of the variety of polymers that comprise mucilage. There was not any absolute distinction between ability to bind radioactive mucilage and type of pathogen or non-pathogen. However, there were notable differences in characteristics of adsorption between two types of pathogen. Differences were revealed by comparison of the adsorption capacities of conidia and germinant conidia and chromatography of radioactive mucilage on germinant conidia. An ectotrophic root-infecting fungus (a highly specialized pathogen) bound a greater proportion of mucilage than did a vascular-wilt fungus (of catholic host and tissue range) with more than one class of site for adsorption. In contrast with the vascular-wilt fungus, sites for adsorption on the specialized pathogen were present solely on surfaces formed by germination.

The cellular basis of epithelial morphogenesis

Epithelial tissues are ubiquitous in metazoan organisms, performing many different functions and assuming a variety of shapes. This diversity of form and function is ultimately dependent on the behavior of the cells within the epithelia. For example, it is intercellular adhesion and the control of paracellular permeability by cell junctions that permit epithelia to form barriers and act as selective filters. It is cellular polarity that enables absorptive epithelia to extract materials from a particular side of the sheet; it is the collective contributions of cell proliferation, cellular translocation, and changes in cell shape that sculpt epithelia from simple sheets into folds, pouches and tubes. Clearly, a complete understanding of epithelial morphogenesis is inextricably entwined with questions of cell behavior in general, such as how any cell adheres, moves, and maintains its shape. The study of epithelial systems has lent considerable insight into these problems and should continue to do so, just as examination of the behavior and architecture of nonepithelial cells will undoubtedly clarify many aspects of the cellular events underlying epithelial morphogenesis. Although the action of individual cells ultimately shapes epithelial, coordination of that action is necessary for the development of a coherent tissue. Attention must therefore be given to integrative mechanisms in epithelial morphogenesis. How do the many cells in an epithelial sheet act in virtual unison during folding? What defines the boundaries of epithelial invaginations? How does an individual cell detect its position within, and thereby know its role in the morphogenesis of, the epithelial whole of which it is a part? At the most elementary level, epithelial cells interact via their physical attachments to one other. Even such rudimentary communication affects cell shape, movement, and possibly proliferation and also plays a part in the maintenance of epithelial polarity. Additional signals pass among epithelial cells by a number of other mechanisms as well, most notably electrical coupling. However, many questions remain regarding the quality and quantity of what is communicated between epithelial cells. Accordingly, elucidating the means by which supracellular order is maintained in epithelial tissues may still be regarded as the major problem in the study of epithelial morphogenesis.

Spheroidal aggregate culture of rat liver cells: histotypic reorganization, biomatrix deposition, and maintenance of functional activities

Liver cells isolated from newborn rats and seeded on a non-adherent plastic substratum were found to spontaneously re-aggregate and to form, within a few days, spheroidal aggregates that eventually reached a plateaued diameter of 150-175 micron. Analyses on frozen sections from these spheroids by immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies to various cytoskeletal elements and extracellular matrix components revealed a sorting out and a histotypic reorganization of three major cell types. A first type consisted of cells that segregated out on the aggregate surface forming a monolayer cell lining; a second type was identified as hepatocytes that regrouped in small islands often defining a central lumen; and a third group of cells reorganized into bile duct-like structures. This intercellular organization in the aggregates was paralleled by the accumulation of extracellular matrix components (laminin, fibronectin, and collagen) and their deposition following a specific pattern around each cell population structure. Determinations of albumin secretion and tyrosine aminotransferase induction by dexamethasone and glucagon at various times after the initiation of the cultures revealed a maintenance of the hepatocyte-differentiated functions for at least up to 2 mo at the levels measured at 3-5 d. It is concluded that cells dispersed as single cells from newborn rat liver conserve in part the necessary information to reconstruct a proper three-dimensional cyto-architecture and that the microenvironment so generated most likely represents a basic requirement for the optimal functioning of these differentiated cells.

The effect of monensin on cell aggregation of normal and dystrophic human skin fibroblasts

Measurements of aggregation kinetics using couette viscometry show that freshly trypsinized skin fibroblasts from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy have values of intercellular adhesiveness approx. 40% those of normal cells. If cells are allowed to recover from the effects of trypsinization (by incubation for 2 h at 37 degrees C in serum-containing medium) the intercellular adhesiveness of both cell types increases, and normal and Duchenne cells aggregate to the same extent. Exposure to the ionophore monensin during the recovery phase leads to suppression of recovery in both cell types, and this effect of the drug is greater in Duchenne fibroblasts. These results are discussed in relation to other data on the reported differential effects of trypsin and monensin on normal and Duchenne fibroblasts.

Adhesive interactions between normal and dystrophic human skin fibroblasts

The adhesive properties of skin fibroblasts from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) were studied by analysing cell aggregate formation in suspensions consisting of normal and DMD fibroblasts. By the use of aggregation kinetics and fluorescent labelling, the genotypic composition of aggregates in mixed-cell suspensions could be visualised. The distribution of normal and DMD cells within these aggregates could then be compared to theoretical binomial distributions which assume no difference in the specific adhesiveness between the two genotypes. Analysis of the 3- and 4-cell aggregates which were produced by co-aggregating normal and DMD cells demonstrate that there is no qualitative (specific) difference in the adhesiveness between normal and DMD fibroblasts. However, quantitative changes in the cell-cell adhesion of DMD fibroblasts may be present, and this is supported by the relatively small proportion of intermediate size heterotypic aggregates which were formed in mixed-genotype cell suspensions. In such mixtures, fewer aggregates consisting of 5 or more cells were formed compared to fibroblast suspensions derived from pairs of normal individuals. Furthermore, cell suspensions from pairs of DMD patients produced even less greater than or equal to 5-cell aggregates than were found in the mixed-genotype experiments. These findings are considered in relation to previous reports of abnormal cell adhesiveness and other adhesion-related mechanisms in DMD cells.

Equilibrium-driven mechanism for preferential adhesion between chick embryo cells

The experiments presented here confirm the hypothesis according to which, in our experimental system of differential cell adhesion (where we studied the kinetics of the earliest period of adhesion of a suspension of chick embryo neuroblasts to layers of astroblasts or fibroblasts), the mechanism of adhesion appears to consist of two steps, the first of which is a short-term reversible phase corresponding to a binding equilibrium. In fact, adhesion of neuroblasts to each of the two cell layers occurs according to kinetic constants and attains levels which are characteristic for each of the two adhesion systems. In both systems, neuroblasts that have not adhered at equilibrium are able to adhere if inoculated over a fresh cell layer of the same type, as they do during the first inoculation; conversely, neuroblasts that have adhered to a cell layer can be made to de-adhere by substituting cell-free fresh medium to the inoculation medium containing non-adhering neuroblasts. This shows that, as predicted for a reversible equilibrium system, removal of adhering neuroblasts from the system at equilibrium provokes adhesion, and removal of non-adhered neuroblasts provokes de-adhesion. Furthermore the level of adhesion at equilibrium is, in all cases, the same. The reversibility of adhesion, which is almost quantitative during the onset of the equilibrium, gradually decreases with time, indicating the presence of a process of irreversible attachment between cells after the first reversible step. The developmental implications of the complete sequential mechanisms are briefly discussed.

Events governing organization of postmigratory neurons: studies on brain development in normal and reeler mice

The purpose of the present work is to examine some of the mechanisms responsible for the early architectonic differentiation of the central nervous system, as well as for the abnormal development which occurs in certain hereditary malformations. In order to approach these questions, the embryonic development of the cerebral cortex, the cerebellum, the inferior olivary complex and the facial nerve nucleus has been studied in normal and reeler mutant mice, using morphological methods. The adult reeler phenotype is characterized not only by extreme laminar abnormalities of cell positioning in the telencephalic and cerebellar cortices, but also by relatively less extreme, though distinct abnormal architectonics in non-cortical structures such as the inferior olive and the facial nerve nucleus. Study of the embryonic development of these structures reveals that neurons are generated at the normal time and migrate along normal pathways. Moreover, the processes of directional axonal growth, differentiation of class specific features of neurons and glia, and synaptogenesis appear similar in both genotypes and are probably not directly affected by the reeler mutation. However, in all instances, the early architectonic organization achieved by reeler cortical, Purkinje, olivary or facial neurons at the end of their migration is consistently less regular than in normal embryos. In addition, these anomalies become amplified during the later developmental period. This evidence for the early appearance of abnormalities in reeler embryos indicates that the disposition of neurons at maturity cannot be exclusively regarded as secondary to the maturation of cells, neurites and connections, but is contingent upon a specific mechanism. One may infer that the presence of a normal allele at the reeler locus is necessary for the normal completion of this histogenetic step, which consequently is submitted to genetic control. Although the factor(s) responsible for the stable configuration of the early architectonics is unknown, various hypotheses are considered. Several lines of evidence are presented which argue against a major role being played by diffusible factors, mesodermal components and afferent fiber systems. Two mechanisms are considered particularly worth evaluating: (1) a diminution of relative adhesivity between neurons and radial glial fibers at the end of migration, and (2) a stabilization of neuronal configuration by selective recognition-adhesion among postmigratory neurons. The reeler gene could, directly or indirectly, affect these cell-cell interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

A flagellar surface glycoprotein mediating cell-substrate interaction in Chlamydomonas

The Chlamydomonas flagellar surface exhibits interesting adhesive properties that are associated with flagellar surface motility. This dynamic surface property can be exhibited as the binding and movement of small polystyrene microspheres or as the interaction of the flagellar surface with a solid substrate followed by whole cell locomotion, termed "gliding". In order to identify flagellar surface proteins that mediate substrate interaction during flagellar surface motility, two immobilized iodination systems were employed that mimic the conditions for flagellar surface motility: small polystyrene microspheres derivatized with lactoperoxidase, and large glass beads derivatized with Iodogen. Use of these iodination conditions resulted in preferential iodination of a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein with apparent molecular weight of 300,000-350,000. These results suggest this glycoprotein as a major candidate for the surface-exposed adhesive component that directly interacts with the substrate and couples the substrate to a system of force transduction presumed to be located within the flagellum.

Rotation-mediated aggregation of skin fibroblasts in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Effects of monensin

Rotation-mediated aggregation of human skin fibroblasts has been studied and the patterns of aggregation compared between cultures obtained from 9 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and from 10 normal controls. The rate of aggregation was dependent on the growth state of the cells, with growing cells aggregating more rapidly than growth-arrested cells. There was considerable variation between individuals in the rate at which cells aggregated but no differences were detected in the aggregation of normal and DMD cells measured by this method. The monovalent cation ionophore monensin, which inhibits the transport of cellular proteins to the extracellular medium, reduced aggregation of all cells. The data suggest that after initial cell-cell contact continued aggregation is dependent on the secretion of materials to the cell surface. The aggregation of normal and DMD cells was affected similarly by this treatment.

A cell surface abnormality in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: intercellular adhesiveness of skin fibroblasts from patients and carriers

The intercellular adhesiveness of skin fibroblasts from patients and carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and control subjects has been determined using couette viscometers. The values for 12 DMD patients (mean = 1.38, SEM = 0.1, n = 32) were significantly lower than for ten control subjects (mean = 3.17, SEM = 0.2, n = 22). According to the Lyon hypothesis, carriers of DMD should be mosaics of cells expressing the normal and DMD phenotypes, and their cultured skin fibroblasts should have intercellular adhesiveness intermediate between that for normal and DMD cells. Cells from three obligate heterozygotes and five individuals at high risk of being carriers had normal values (in both groups mean = 2.82) in contrast to artificial 1:1 mixtures of normal and DMD cells that had intermediate values (mean = 2.22, SEM = 0.2, n = 15). This unexpected finding is probably the result of "correction" of the DMD cells by normal gene product from the cells expressing the normal gene.

Antibodies to epithelial desmosomes show wide tissue and species cross-reactivity

Many workers regard cell adhesion as a highly specific phenomenon, believing that different molecular mechanisms are involved in the adhesion of cells of different tissues and different species. We believe that the evidence from cell behaviour is against this view and that cells share common adhesion mechanisms (for reviews see refs 1, 2); however, molecular evidence is lacking. As an approach to providing such evidence we have begun to study desmosomes, the cell-surface organelles responsible for strong intercellular adhesion in epithelia. We have raised antisera against each of five high-molecular weight (MW) desmosomal components. Having determined the specificity of our antisera by immunoblotting, we show here that each gives a staining pattern corresponding to the distribution of desmosomes in a range of tissues from different vertebrate species, demonstrating that desmosomal components are widely shared and highly conserved.

Adhesion to extracellular materials by neural crest cells at the stage of initial migration

Trunk-level neural anlagen bearing neural crest cells at the stage of initiation of migration were isolated from chick embryos and explanted in serum-free medium onto glass substrates which had previously been treated with extracellular materials. After 0.5-2 h incubation, the explants were dislodged with a stream of culture medium and the substrate examined for adherent crest cells. Crest cells adhered to collagen gels, and adhered to and spread on adsorbed fibronectin; antiserum to fibronectin prevented adhesion to fibronectin but not to collagen gels. Air-dried collagen gels and collagen solutions were less adhesive, the adhesivity declining with longer drying time and lower collagen concentration. Crest cells adhered poorly to dried gelatin and not at all to adsorbed collagen. Fibronectin increased the adhesion to dried collagen and gelatin. Pretreatment of collagen gels with hyaluronate retarded adhesion. Hyaluronate pretreatment also retarded adhesion to adsorbed fibronectin but only when adsorbed collagen was also present. Pretreatment of collagen gels with the proteoglycan monomer from bovine nasal cartilage had no effect of the adhesion of crest cells, but the proteoglycan almost completely inhibited adhesion to adsorbed fibronectin, but only when absorbed collagen was also present. The results are discussed in terms of the control of migration of neural crest cells by extracellular materials.