Premium
Effect of floating a gel matrix on mucin release in cultured airway epithelial cells
Author(s) -
Kim K. Chul,
Zheng QiaoXi,
Brody Jerome S.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.1041560307
Subject(s) - mucin , microbiology and biotechnology , collagenase , extracellular matrix , cell culture , secretion , matrix (chemical analysis) , hamster , egta , in vitro , chemistry , biophysics , biology , biochemistry , genetics , organic chemistry , chromatography , calcium , enzyme
Confluent cultures of primary hamster tracheal surface epithelial (HTSE) cells grown on a thick collagen gel are highly enriched with secretory cells and constitutively release mucins. In the present experiment, we examined the possible effect of mechanical strain of cultured HTSE cells on the release of mucin. The mechanical strain of cells was accomplished by several methods: 1) by floating the gel from the culture dish by rimming; 2) by treatment with EGTA which interrupts intercellular tight junctions; 3) by treatment with collagenase which disrupts the cell‐matrix adhesion; and 4) by mechanically flexing the collagen gel matrix. All these conditions caused increases of mucin release without damage on the plasma membrane. We conclude that a number of mechanical strains which might alter cell shape can stimulate mucin release from cultured HTSE cells. Such a mechanism might be operative in the physiological regulation of airway goblet cell mucin secretion where mechanical strains may be induced on epithelial cells by underlying smooth muscles. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.