Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., Volume 19, Number 3, September, 1998 445-452

Tenascin and Fibronectin Expression in Human Mesothelial Cells and Pleural Mesothelioma Cell-Line Cells

Vuokko L. Kinnula, Auli Linnala, Eija Viitala, Kaija Linnainmaa, and Ismo Virtanen

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu; Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Helsinki; and Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland

Fibronectin (Fn) and tenascin (Tn) are two major extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoproteins that may have important roles both in fibrotic lung diseases and in lung tumors. The significance of Fn and Tn in human pleural mesothelial cells and pleural diseases is unclear. Transformed human pleural mesothelial cells (Met5A), primary cultures of mesothelial cells, and cultured mesothelioma cell lines were investigated for Fn and Tn immunoreactivity. Mesothelial cells were exposed for 48 to 96 h to transforming growth factor- (TGF-), tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-), amosite asbestos fibers, or oxidants (H₂O₂ and menadione, a compound that auto-oxidizes to produce superoxide). Immunofluorescence and Western blotting with monoclonal anti-Fn and anti-Tn antibodies, and Northern blotting with a complementary DNA (cDNA) probe for Tn showed that mesothelial cells are capable of producing Fn and Tn. The mRNA level and immunoreactivity of Tn was enhanced by TGF- and TNF-, whereas Fn was intensified only by TGF-. A wide range of amosite, H₂O₂, or menadione concentrations had no clear effect on Fn or Tn reactivity. Fn and Tn were present at low or undetectable concentrations in five of six mesothelioma cell lines, whereas the organization of Fn immunoreactivity in these cell lines was variable. Furthermore, results obtained with the tumor tissue of these same mesothelioma patients suggested that Fn and Tn expressions do not necessarily parallel either each other or results obtained with the cultured cells.

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