The extracellular fluid macromolecular composition differentially affects cell-substrate adhesion and cell morphology.

ABSTRACT: Soluble macromolecules present in the tumour microenvironment (TME) alter the physical characteristics of the extracellular fluid and can affect cancer cell behaviour. A fundamental step in cancer progression is the formation of a new vascular network which may originate from both pre-existing normal endothelium and cancer-derived cells. To study the role of extracellular macromolecules in the TME affecting endothelial cells we exposed normal and cancer-derived endothelial cells to inert polymer solutions with different physicochemical characteristics. The cancer cell line SK-HEP-1, but not normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells, responded to high-macromolecular-content solutions by elongating and aligning with other cells, an effect that was molecular weight-dependent. Moreover, we

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Molina J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6560040 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature