Synthesis of Extracellular Matrix and Adhesion Through β 1 Integrins Are Critical for Fetal Ventricular Myocyte Proliferation

—Extracellular matrix (ECM) regulates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. The role of ECM in myocardial growth is unexplored. We sought to determine whether human fetal ventricular myocytes (HFVMs) produce ECM and whether synthesis and attachment to ECM are necessary for their epidermal growth factor (EGF)–dependent and –independent proliferation. Cultured HFVMs proliferate in the presence but not absence of serum and EGF, as determined by increase in cell number and [3 H]thymidine and [14 C]leucine incorporation (measures of DNA and protein synthesis, respectively). Using a cyanogen bromide digestion technique to measure collagen and elastin and using affinity chromatography for fibronectin, we found that HFVMs synthesized collagen and fibronectin but not elastin. HFVMs grown on exogenous ECM (including fibronectin and type I collagen and laminin) demonstrated no change in proliferation or DNA and protein synthesis with or without EGF. However, inhibition of collagen synthesis usingcis -4-hydroxyproline resulted in a decrease in EGF-related HFVM proliferation and DNA and protein synthesis, which was reversed by exposure tol -proline but not by growth on type I collagen. Use of β1 but not β3 integrin antibody to inhibit cell interaction with ECM resulted in a decrease in HFVM proliferation and DNA and protein synthesis in response to EGF. Furthermore, EGF-dependent proliferation was enhanced by α1 β1 and α5 β1 antibodies that act as functional ligands, but not α3 β1 , the only β1 subtype expressed in adult myocytes. In conclusion, proliferating HFVMs synthesize collagen and fibronectin. The proliferative response of HFVMs to EGF requires the synthesis of collagen as well as attachment to specific α/β1 integrin heterodimers.