Variant choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cells that differ in adhesion and migration on fibronectin display conserved patterns of integrin expression

Starting from the BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line, two stable variant cell lines (epi and Ic) were isolated. Epi cells displayed an epithelioid colony morphology while Ic were fibroblastoid. Ic cells attached and spread on fibronectin-coated surfaces at significantly lower density of fibronectin than epi or the parent cell line. Ic also migrated more efficiently to fibronectin in a trans-filter assay than either epi or parent cells. Integrin expression by the cell lines was investigated by flow cytometry and immunoprecipitation from surface-labelled cells with a panel of subunit-specific antibodies. Integrins α2β1, α5β1, αvβ1 and α6β4 were detected in each case, and levels of expression were identical in the two variant lines. Anti-functional antibodies were used to probe the role of integrins in fibronectin- and vitronectin-mediated adhesion. Complete inhibition of adhesion to fibronectin was observed with anti-β1 antibody, and partial inhibition with anti-as, suggesting that integrin α5β1 is mainly responsible for the interaction. Adhesion to vitronectin was inhibitable using anti-αv and anti-β1 antibodies, suggesting that integrin αvβ1 is active in these cells as a vitronectin receptor. There was a correlation between the altered morphology of the variant cells and alterations in the distribution of integrin α6β4 and laminin in monolayer cultures. The results support the idea that fibronectin may mediate the migratory behaviour of extravillous trophoblast in vivo. Switch to a more migratory phenotype may be mediated by the selective activation of integrins and altered interaction with basement membrane.