Connective tissue structure: cell binding to collagen.

Established lines of fibroblasts have been shown to adhere to collagen substrates via a serum-derived glycoprotein. The attachment of various other cells to collagen types I-IV is examined here. Cells such as human skin fibroblasts, periosteum, hepatocytes, connective tissue cells, and monocytes required the serum glycoprotein and adhered equally well to all collagens, but attachment of chondrocytes, epidermal cells, and neutrophils was inhibited by the serum glycoprotein. Attachment of 2 tumorigenic cells, an osteosarcoma and a fibrosarcoma, was found to be unaffected by the serum glycoprotein. In addition, the fibrosarcoma and epidermal cells attached preferentially to type IV (basement membrane) collagen.