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Modulation of cell attachment to culture support by pH, fibronectin, hemin, and cobalt protoporphyrin
Insights
Cell attachment rates in chick embryo fibroblasts are pH-dependent, but fibronectin, cobalt-protoporphyrin (CoPP), and hemin enhance attachment at acidic pH. CoPP may promote cell adhesion by increasing fibronectin-like protein synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cell attachment is crucial for cellular functions.
- Acidic pH conditions can negatively impact cell adhesion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of pH on chick embryo fibroblast attachment.
- To explore compounds that can enhance cell attachment at acidic pH.
Main Methods:
- Chick embryo fibroblasts were cultured in minimum essential medium with horse serum.
- Cell attachment rates were measured at different pH levels (6.5, 7.5, 8.3).
- The effects of fibronectin, cobalt-protoporphyrin (CoPP), and hemin on cell attachment were evaluated.
Main Results:
- Cell attachment was significantly reduced at pH 6.5 compared to pH 7.5 and 8.3.
- Fibronectin pretreatment restored high cell attachment rates at pH 6.5.
- CoPP and hemin also enhanced cell attachment at pH 6.5.
- CoPP increased protein synthesis but not intracellular heme content at pH 6.5.
Conclusions:
- Cell attachment is sensitive to pH, with optimal rates at neutral to alkaline conditions.
- Fibronectin, CoPP, and hemin can overcome pH-induced inhibition of cell attachment.
- CoPP and hemin may enhance cell adhesion by stimulating the synthesis of fibronectin-like proteins.
Abstract:
When chick embryo fibroblasts were seeded in the presence of minimum essential medium supplemented with 1% (v/v) horse serum, the rate of cell attachment, after 1 hr incubation, was less than 5% at pH 6.5 and about 50% and 80% at pH 7.5 and pH 8.3, respectively. If, however, cultures were pretreated with fibronectin, a substance that promotes cell adhesion, a high rate of cell attachment was also observed at pH 6.5. Two other compounds of totally different chemical nature, cobalt-protoporphyrin (CoPP) and hemin, also enhanced cell attachment at pH 6.5. CoPP was shown to increase the synthesis of proteins, but it did not affect the intracellular heme content of cells incubated at pH 6.5. The possibility that CoPP, and presumably also hemin, induce cell attachment by promoting the synthesis of a fibronectin like protein is discussed.