Objective: To compare the variation in morphology of low and high metastatic variants C6 and C7, which were isolated from mouse lung adenocarcinoma cell line (LA795) by single cell culture technique.
Method: The low and high metastatic variants C6 and C7 were used in vitro, to compare the variation in morphology, cytoskeleton, motility, adhesion under the action of LN molecule and to compare the variation in the expression of endogenous LN molecule as well.
Results: Under LN molecule free culture condition, the motility and adhesion of high metastatic cell C6 were lower than those of low metastatic cells C7. This phenomenon indicated that the metastatic potential in vivo might be of negative correlation to the motility or adhesion in vitro. But if the LN molecules were added to the culture for 48 hours. Significantly, the motility and the adhesion were enhanced, the cytoskeleton network was reorganized, and the morphology was changed. In the C6 and C7 cells, both the motility and adhesion in vitro were positively correlated with the metastatic potential in vivo under the action of LN molecule. In addition, the distribution of the cytoskeleton network in the high metastatic variant C6 was uneven, irregular, close to one side of cell nucleus. The high metastatic cells C6 were shown strongly positive for endogenous LN by immunohistochemical technique and the distribution of the endogenous LN was close to one side of the cell nucleus.
Conclusions: The quantity and distribution of endogenous and exogenous LN molecule and its receptors on the tumor cells may be an important factor for tumor metastatic heterogeneity. The mechanism of the action of LN molecule is correlated with the reorganization of the cytoskeleton.