Abnormal matrix recognition by Morris hepatomas correlates with low glucagon binding capacity

Liver biomatrix contains a group of connective tissue components needed for attachment, survival, and maintenance of liver-specific functions of adult rat hepatocytes in culture. An acidic extract of liver biomatrix that contains a group of glycoproteins can replace intact biomatrix in promoting attachment and survival of hepatocytes. However, except for albumin synthesis, liver-specific functions have not been tested. Acidic extracts of biomatrices prepared from heart, kidney, lung, and spleen (heterologous) contain a similar group of glycoproteins, but differ with respect to liver glycoproteins in their capacity to sustain hepatocyte binding. Normal hepatocytes attach poorly to heterologous glycoprotein extracts, although regenerating and tumoral hepatocytes attach to liver glycoproteins and adhere equally well or with greater efficiency to heterologous glycoprotein extracts. The increased efficiency of hepatocytes to attach to kidney biomatrix-derived glycoproteins showed a linear correlation with the decreased glucagon binding capacity of their isolated plasma membranes. An epithelioid cell-line derived from kidney (MDCK) attached with higher efficiency to kidney than to liver glycoproteins. These results suggest that biomatrices may contain specific glycoproteins needed for attachment and survival of their epithelial cells. This specificity is lost during the proliferative state of regenerating and tumoral hepatocytes and could be important in the general mechanism of tumor dissemination and metastases.