GI Epithelial Cell Coating Solution

Cells adhere to one another and to the extracellular matrix durinig normal physiology and development, but also in pathological conditions such as chronic inflammation and tumor metastasis.

For example, during extravasation from blood vessels into the tissue space, leukocytes first weakly adhere to and roll upon vascular endothelial cells via cell surface receptors known as selectins.  Subsequent, stronger adhesion ensues using other receptors and ligands, such as LFA-1 and ICAM-1.  Transendothelial migration follows, where the leukocytes squeeze between the tight endothelial cell junctions.  As a final impediment to entering the tissue space, the leukocytes encounter the basement membrane, a mixture of extracellular components that ensheathes the vessel. The leukocytes utilize still other receptors to bind ECM, and also secrete matrix-degrading enzymes to facilitate their passage.  Unfortunately, tumor cells utilze a similar mechanism as they spread to distant parts of the body during metastasis.

Organs and tissues of the body also contain extensive networks of extracellular matrix, acting as structural scaffolding and regulating cell adhesion, migration and behavior.  Finally certain cells, when cultured in vitro, behave more robustly when adhering to a cell culture vessel coated with an ECM analog, component or other attachment factor.  Thus, the study of cell adhesion remains an area of particular interest to cell biologists.