Modifications of the intermediate filament and nuclear matrix networks by the extracellular matrix

The tissue matrix system is a dynamic, interacting structural network directly linking the nuclear matrix, cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. We report here that interaction of normal rat kidney epithelial cells (NRK) and Kirsten-ras transformed rat kidney cells, with an extracellular matrix secreted by tumor cells, causes modifications to the protein composition of the intermediate filament and nuclear matrix networks. The matrix networks are different between normal and transformed cells; however, these alterations by the tumor extracellular matrix are similar in both cell types. These data represent the first report that modification of the extracellular matrix environment can have an effect on the protein composition of the nuclear matrix.