Expression and function of beta 1 integrins on adherent and nonadherent Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

Differences in integrin-mediated cell-matrix adhesion between two types of Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells, adherent and nonadherent EAT cells, have been studied. The adherent EAT (a-EAT) cells adhere to and spread on laminin- or fibronectin-coated plates, whereas the nonadherent EAT (na-EAT) cells do not. The adhesion of a-EAT cells to laminin or fibronectin requires the presence of both Ca2+ and Mg2+. Anti-human fibronectin receptor (alpha 5 beta 1 integrin) antiserum blocks a-EAT cells from adhering to both laminin- and fibronectin-coated plates. An RGD-containing peptide (GRGDSP) inhibits the adhesion of a-EAT cells to fibronectin-coated but not to laminin-coated plates. Taken together, these data suggest that a-EAT cells interact with laminin and fibronectin via different beta 1 integrins. As determined by immunofluorescence flow cytometry assay, both a-EAT and na-EAT cells express similar amounts of surface antigen(s) recognized by the same anti-alpha 5 beta 1 integrin polyclonal antibody that blocks a-EAT cells from adhering to laminin and fibronectin. The alpha 5 and beta 1 subunits expressed on both types of EAT cells appear to have the same molecular weight when analyzed by immunoblotting. The same amount of 125I-labeled membrane protein was isolated from both types of EAT cells on immobilized laminin and fibronectin affinity columns. These data indicate that na-EAT cells express similar amounts of cell surface integrins, and these integrins, when isolated, react with laminin and fibronectin in the same manner as the integrins of a-EAT cells, even though na-EAT cells are unable to adhere to laminin and fibronectin. Previous work has shown that both types of EAT cells express Neu5Ac alpha 2,3 Gal-beta 1, 4 GlcNAc residues on their cell surface and that they both react with Maackia amurensis lectin which specifically recognizes this carbohydrate structure. Here we show that both types of EAT cells attach to M. amurensis lectin-coated surfaces, but only a-EAT cells spread; this suggests that the differences between these two types of cells in responding to extra cellular matrix molecules may reside in some differences within the cell.