Induction of terminal differentiation in epithelial cells requires polymerization of hensin by galectin 3.

ABSTRACT: During terminal differentiation, epithelia become columnar and develop specialized apical membrane structures (microvilli) and functions (regulated endocytosis and exocytosis). Using a clonal intercalated epithelial cell line, we found that high seeding density induced these characteristics, whereas low density seeding maintained a protoepithelial state. When cells were plated at low density, but on the extracellular matrix of high density cells, they converted to the more differentiated phenotype. The extracellular matrix (ECM) protein responsible for this activity was purified and found to be a large 230-kD protein, which we termed hensin. High density seeding caused hensin to be polymerized and deposited in the extracellular matrix, and only this form of hensin was able to induce termin

SUBMITTER: Hikita C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2190595 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature