Matrigel and similar commercial products are extracts of the
Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm sarcoma that provide a basement-membrane-like attachment substrate or gel that is used to grow cells on or in, respectively. To ascertain further what
proteins may be present in
Matrigel, besides its major basement-membrane constituents, an analysis of the expressed liquid of gelled
Matrigel was performed using
proteome array technology. Among the
growth factors/
cytokines assayed, high positive detection was found for IGFBP1, IGFBP3, LIF,
platelet factor 4, PlGF-2, and
VEGF; moderate reactivity was found for cyr61, IGFBP2, IGFBP6,
IL-1ra, and NOV; and low, but detectable, responses occurred for aFGF,
IL-13,
IL-23,
M-CSF, and
VEGF-B. Among the
chemokines assayed, high positive detection was found for MIG and
serpin E1; moderate reactivity was found for IP-10, MCP-1, and MCP-5, and low, but detectable, responses occurred for CXCL16, I-TAC, and MIP-1α. Among the other biologically active
proteins assayed, high positive detection was found for
adiponectin, C5a, endocan,
lipocalin-2, sICAM-1, MMP-3, and TIMP-1; moderate reactivity was found for
C-reactive protein,
coagulation factor III,
endoglin,
endostatin/
collagen XVIII,
endothelin-1,
ICAM-1, MMP-9,
osteopontin, pentraxin-3, and
RANTES; and low, but detectable, responses occurred for
fetuin A, MMP-8, pentraxin-2, RBP4,
resistin, and TIMP-4. The study found several
growth factors,
chemokines, and biologically active
proteins not previously identified in
Matrigel, and this may have significance to the interpretations of observed cellular responses when cells are grown on or in
Matrigel.