The anti-invasive flavonoid (+)-catechin binds to laminin and abrogates the effect of laminin on cell morphology and adhesion

in Experimental Cell Research (1987), 173(1), 193-205

To study the effect of the flavonoid (+)-catechin on cell-matrix interactions two cell types with a different morphology on and adhesion to laminin were used. MO4 virally transformed fetal mouse cells ... [more ▼]

To study the effect of the flavonoid (+)-catechin on cell-matrix interactions two cell types with a different morphology on and adhesion to laminin were used. MO4 virally transformed fetal mouse cells adhere and spread when cultured on top of laminin-coated coverslips or on human amnion basement membrane. M5076 mouse reticulum cell sarcoma cells poorly adhere to these substrates and remain round. Both cell types are invasive in confronting cultures with embryonic chick heart fragments. (+)-Catechin binds to laminin in a pH-dependent way. Pretreatment of laminin-coated coverslips or amnion basement membrane with 0.5 mM (+)-catechin abrogates the effect of laminin on cell morphology and adhesion. MO4 cells do not adhere to the pretreated substrates and remain round, while M5076 cells now adhere and spread. (+)-Catechin inhibits the invasion of MO4 cells but not of M5076 cells into embryonic chick heart in vitro. We speculate that the anti-invasive activity of the flavonoid to MO4 cells is the result of its interference with MO4 cell adhesion to laminin. Invasion of M5076 cells does not imply adhesion to and spreading on laminin. [less ▲]

Structure and behavior of rat primary and secondary Schwann cells in vitro

in Experimental Cell Research (1981), 131(2), 283-297

The structure and motility of isolated rat primary (I) Schwann cells (SC) have been compared to that of subcultured (II) SC during and after mitotic stimulation. I SC contain myelin components which ... [more ▼]

The structure and motility of isolated rat primary (I) Schwann cells (SC) have been compared to that of subcultured (II) SC during and after mitotic stimulation. I SC contain myelin components which persist for 2 weeks in serum-free medium while they rapidly disappear in medium containing serum and high glucose concentration. These components were never detected in II SC. Both I SC and II SC after their mitotic phase are spindle-shaped, contain many intermediate and actin filaments, have no basement membrane but show intense migratory and undulatory activities. Rare fibroblasts in I cultures are recognized by their extremely variable shape, the presence of Thy 1.1 antigen in their membrane and their intense edge ruffling alternating with abrupt translocation. In contrast, I SC movements consist of intracellular translocation of nuclei along SC processes, which retract and extend constantly, and in slow rhythmic undulation episodes (2.3 ± 0.2/min) alternating with migration at 135 ± 50 μ/h. The total number of these episodes per day in serum-free medium is rigorously identical for different cells (166.3 ± 0.2) and this uniformity of frequency suggests a genotypic basis. Cycles, consisting of an undulation episode followed by a resting interval, have mean durations of 8.6 ± 4.1 min and a sharp peak of occurrence at 6 min, with exponential distribution of the longer periods. Motility of II SC is considerably inhibited during mitotic stimulation by cholera toxin and a pituitary extract while SC phenotype has changed to a flat multipolar cell with prominent Golgi and ribosomes. Migration is reduced to 24 ± 2 μ/h and only 2% of the SC show pulsations of the same periodicity as the I SC undulations. A dramatic increase in pulsation frequency occurs 6–12 h after removal of mitogenic factors when 80% of II SC start pulsating twice as fast for 2–3 days. When mitoses cease, SC quickly recover their SC phenotype with rhythmic undulations while migration speed increased to 92 ± 20 μ/h. Thus, in spite of dramatic modification of shape, structure and behavior during mitotic stimulation, SC subsequently recover their unique motility pattern which might be essential for their myelinating function [less ▲]