Laminin mediates basement membrane induced differentiation of HEC 1B endometrial adenocarcinoma cells
Abstract
In vitro studies on endometrial carcinogenesis have been hampered by limited differentiation of the cells in culture. Using the endometrial carcinoma cell lines HEC 1B and its subclone HEC 1B(L), we established and characterized cell culture conditions that preserve a more differentiated state of the tumor cells. Randomly seeded HEC 1B(L) cells, if grown in a serum-free defined medium on top of a reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel), within a few hours assembled themselves to web-like structures. In a thick layer of Matrigel, they showed an even more pronounced morphological differentiation. Functionally, two additional secretory proteins, about 31 and 77 kDa in size, became apparent as a response to matrigel. To further investigate the regulatory role of the extracellular matrix in the process of in vitro differentiation of endometrial adenocarcinoma cells, we addressed two specific problems. First, we investigated if the capacity of in vitro differentiation is a specific feature of HEC 1B(L) cells or if it is common to all endometrial adenocarcinoma cells. Second, we tried to identify the Matrigel component(s) responsible for in vitro differentiation. The assembly of HEC 1B and HEC 1B(L) cells into spatially organized w...Continue Reading
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