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Reciprocal interactions between human ovarian surface epithelial cells and adjacent extracellular matrix
P A Kruk1, V J Uitto, J D Firth
1Department of Anatomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Experimental Cell Research
|November 1, 1994
Summary
Human ovarian surface epithelial cells exhibit versatile interactions with the extracellular matrix, influencing their behavior and function. These ovarian cells display both epithelial and mesenchymal characteristics, crucial for physiological and pathological processes.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Extracellular Matrix Research
- Gynecologic Oncology
Background:
- The human ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) is a functionally versatile tissue capable of proliferation, migration, and repair.
- Cyclic hormonal and environmental changes influence OSE cell behavior.
- Understanding OSE cell-extracellular matrix interactions is key to their complex functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of different extracellular matrix (ECM) substrates on primary and low-passage human ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells.
- To determine how ECM interactions modulate OSE cell phenotype, including morphology, migration, and matrix production.
- To explore the expression of integrins and proteases in OSE cells cultured on various ECMs.
Main Methods:
- Culturing primary and low-passage human OSE cells on diverse substrates: plastic, fibrin clots, Matrigel, and collagen gels.
- Assessing cell morphology, monolayer cohesion, and invasion capabilities.
- Analyzing ECM production (laminin, collagen types I, III, and IV) and secretion of proteases (serine proteases, matrix metalloproteinases).
- Quantifying cell proliferation rates and integrin expression (e.g., alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 5, beta 1, vitronectin receptor).
Main Results:
- OSE cells formed cohesive monolayers on plastic but dispersed on fibrin clots.
- Cells invaded Matrigel as aggregates and underwent epithelial-mesenchymal transition on collagen gels.
- ECM composition influenced OSE cell production of basement membrane and stromal components.
- Protease secretion levels varied significantly with substrate, inversely correlating with cell proliferation.
- Integrin expression patterns differed across substrates, with downregulation observed on collagen gels.
Conclusions:
- Extracellular matrix composition dynamically modulates OSE cell shape, growth, protease production, and integrin expression.
- OSE cells actively remodel the ECM through synthesis and degradation, exhibiting both epithelial and stromal characteristics.
- The observed phenotypic plasticity suggests a dual epithelio-mesenchymal potential in OSE cells, relevant to physiological and pathological processes.