Role of collagenous matrices in the adhesion and growth of cells.

Abstract

It has long been appreciated that, for many types of cells, attachment to a substrate is required for their replication. Collagen substrates enhance the growth (64,70,109,238) as well as the differentiation (40,69,85,86,146,161,184), of many cells in culture above that observed with other substrates such as plastic and glass. As discussed in this report, many cultured cells including fibroblasts, myoblasts, hepatocytes, chondrocytes, and certain epithelial cells are thought not to bind directly to the collagen substrate or to the plastic surface of culture dishes (31,73,74,76,77,89,93,113,164,220) . Instead, extracellular glycoproteins bind the cells to the substrate. One of these attachment proteins, fibronectin, has been extensively studied (99,151,166,227,228,244) . Fibronectin is produced by fibroblasts (13,197,246) and endothelial cells (102, 140) as well as some other cell types . It is also present in high concentrations in blood and serum (152) . In culture, serum fibronectin, as well as that produced by the cells, can bind to both the collagen substrates and the tissue culture plastic surface and mediate the attachment of cells (73,113,164,242) . Circulating fibronectin participates in a variety of reactions important to wound healing, including the adhesion and spreading of platelets on collagen (10, 14, 75, 100, 204), binding to the fibrin clot (74,150,198) and to collagen (37,46,94,103,119), promoting opsonization reactions by phagocytic cells (18,94,201), and promoting fibroblast migration (6, 61) . Thus, fibronectin not only functions as an attachment protein, but also may play an important role in repair reactions .In the case of certain differentiated cells, such as chondrocytes (89) and epithelial cells (159, 220), glycoproteins different from fibronectin are active in attachment. The components of these extracellular matrices of fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and epithelial cells differ with the cell type, and they require separate attachment proteins to provide additional specificity to the interaction of the cell with its matrix. Alterations in cellsubstratum interactions are observed in differentiating cells and after spontaneous transformation of cells or exposure to oncogenic agents (99,228) . This review will briefly outline our current knowledge of the types of collagen and their distribution and biosynthesis. Then, the interaction of cells with col-REVIEW

Topographical arrangement of basement membrane proteins in lactating rat mammary gland: comparison of the distribution of type IV collagen, laminin, fibronectin, and Thy-1 at the ultrastructural level.

“…We have shown (1) that fibronectin is located in the basement membrane region of the lactating rat mammary gland but not in the virgin gland. Fibronectin is involved in cell adhesion (26), and its presence and topographical distribution in the lactating mammary gland may be a consequence of the need to anchor the epithelial cells which are only temporarily exposed to the basement membrane. Similarly, it has been suggested that Thy-1 could be involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix recognition processes in lymphocyte migration.…”

Organic–Inorganic Surface Modifications for Titanium Implant Surfaces

“…Collagen, being the main organic component of the ECM, induces positive effects concerning cellular adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of many cell types in culture (175)(176)(177). Furthermore, collagen exhibits high in vivo biodegradability and excellent biocompatibility (178).…”

Culture of prostate epithelial cells of the rhesus monkey on extracellular matrix substrate: influence of steroids and insulin-like growth factors

“…The ECM, composed of stromal elements, is synthesized by mesenchymal and epithelial cells through a process which requires dynamic cell-cell interaction (Martin et al 1984). The major components of ECM are collagen, elastin, proteoglycans, glycoprotein fibrils and anchorage proteins such as fibronectin and laminin and its composition varies in different tissues (Kleinman et al 1981). Murray et al (1979) also reported a four-to fivefold increase in the attachment of epidermal cells in collagen IV-coated flasks than in flasks coated with types I-III collagen.…”