This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Taylor-Papadimitriou, J. Articles by Hurst, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Taylor-Papadimitriou, J. Articles by Hurst, J.

Production of Fibronectin by Normal and Malignant Human Mammary Epithelial Cells

Laboratory Epithelial Cell Growth Regulation, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Lincoln's Inn Fields, P. O. Box 123, London, WC2A 3PX, England

The production and retention of fibronectin by primary cultures of cells derived from the human breast has been analyzed. Two examples of each of the following cell types were examined: (a) normal epithelium from milk; (b) metastatic breast cancer cells in pleural effusions; (c) fibroblasts; (d) tissue macrophages of milk. Cell-associated fibronectin could be detected by indirect immunofluorescent staining on normal and malignant mammary epithelium and on mammary fibroblasts, but not on milk macrophages. Immune precipitation followed by gel electrophoresis of ³⁵S-labeled cell lysates and conditioned medium confirmed that fibronectin was indeed synthesized by both types of epithelial cells and by fibroblasts, but not by macrophages, and that much of the protein was released into the medium. Quantitative analysis with radioimmune assay of the fibronectin on cells and in media showed that both normal and malignant epithelial cells synthesized levels of protein comparable to that produced by fibroblasts, but only a small fraction (<10%) of the material synthesized was retained by the cells. Growth on collagen-coated plastic increased the percentage of fibronectin retained by normal and malignant epithelium but did not affect retention by fibroblasts.

Received 7/31/80. Accepted 2/19/81.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Wang, J. A Julian, and D. D Carson The MUC1 HMFG1 Glycoform Is a Precursor to the 214D4 Glycoform in the Human Uterine Epithelial Cell Line, HES Biol Reprod, February 1, 2008; 78(2): 290 - 298. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]