Increased fibronectin-receptor expression in colon carcinoma-derived HT 29 cells decreases tumorigenicity in nude mice.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

Following malignant transformation, epithelial cells of colorectal carcinomas, unlike normal colonic epithelial cells, no longer express the alpha 5 beta 1 fibronectin receptor. We hypothesized that the loss of alpha 5 beta 1 expression might facilitate the tumorigenicity of transformed colonic cells.

METHODS:

To examine this hypothesis, we established subclones of the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT 29, which differ in their fibronectin receptor expression and tested their tumorigenicity in nude mice.

RESULTS:

Our data indicate that the capacity to form tumors in nude mice after subcutaneous injection was significantly lower for alpha 5-positive than for alpha 5-negative cell clones. In addition, tumors from clones expressing no detectable levels of alpha 5 beta 1 grew rapidly, whereas tumors expressing elevated levels of fibronectin receptor grew slowly. Despite similar rates of adhesion to fibronectin for alpha 5-positive and alpha 5-negative cell clones in vitro, deposition of fibronectin in tumor-surrounding stroma was increased in tumors derived from alpha 5-positive cells.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results indicate that an increase of the alpha 5 beta 1-mediated interaction of malignant cells with the extracellular matrix may be responsible for decreased tumorigenicity of malignant transformed cells in colorectal carcinomas.

• Authors: A Stallmach, B von Lampe, H D Orzechowski, H Matthes, E O Riecken
• Journal: Gastroenterology (Gastroenterology) Vol. 106 Issue 1 Pg. 19-27 (Jan 1994) ISSN: 0016-5085 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8276181 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Fibronectins
• Integrins
• Receptors, Fibronectin

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Animals
• Carcinogenicity Tests
• Cell Adhesion
• Colonic Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Extracellular Matrix (metabolism)
• Female
• Fibronectins (physiology)
• Humans
• Integrins (metabolism)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Nude
• Neoplasm Transplantation
• Receptors, Fibronectin (metabolism)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured (transplantation)