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The upper cell surface: its inability to support active cell movement in culture
The Journal of Cell Biology
|July 1, 1974
Summary
Cell monolayering in culture occurs because cells cannot adhere to or spread on the upper surfaces of other cells. This suggests cell surfaces have varying adhesive properties, hindering cell-to-cell movement.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Cell culture techniques often result in monolayering, where cells grow in a single layer.
- The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, particularly cell-cell adhesion and spreading, are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the adhesive properties of cell surfaces in culture.
- To determine the cause of monolayering in epithelial cells and fibroblasts.
Main Methods:
- Observation of epithelial cells and fibroblasts in culture.
- Testing the adhesion and spreading of inert particles and cell processes on cell surfaces.
Main Results:
- Cells fail to move over the upper surfaces of other cells, leading to monolayering.
- Fibroblasts do not adhere to or spread on epithelial cell surfaces.
- Fibroblasts also fail to spread on the upper surfaces of other fibroblasts, indicating a general phenomenon.
- Adhesion is initiated at the cell's free margin, not the upper surface.
Conclusions:
- Monolayering is caused by the lack of adhesion and spreading on the upper cell surface.
- Cell surfaces exhibit heterogeneous adhesive properties, with the free margin being more adhesive than the upper surface.