Basement membrane invasion of glioma cells mediated by integrin receptors

Basement membrane invasion precedes meningeal dissemination and systemic metastasis of glioma cells. In order to investigate the invasive ability of glioblastomas and the functional role of extracellular matrix receptors, the authors performed in vitro invasion assays where the number of cells was determined from freshly resected tumors (primary cultures and fifth passages) and from cell lines (U-138 MG, U-373 MG, and GaMg) that had migrated through a filter coated with a reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel). The involvement of integrin adhesion molecules was examined by preincubation of glioma cells with blocking antibodies to specific integrin chains. Cells from all of the glioblastomas had migrated through the Matrigel after 4 to 24 hours; the number of invasive cells was highest in the cell lines. Invasion of U-138 MG cells was reduced with antibodies to alpha 7, alpha v, beta 1, and beta 3 integrin chains and markedly increased by anti-alpha 5, while invasion of U-373 MG cells was reduced by antibodies to alpha 3, alpha v, beta 1, and beta 3 and increased by anti-alpha 6. It is concluded that: 1) glioma cells are able to penetrate Matrigel, indicating that the basement membrane is not a resistant barrier for infiltrating cells; and 2) basement membrane invasion is mediated by integrins in a complex manner. Some integrins promote while others inhibit basement membrane invasion. Furthermore, the integrins involved may differ between various glioma cells.