Effects of hyper and hypo osmotic stress on pleural mesothelial cell adhesion and migration

Abstract

Cells adjust to osmotic stress regulating their volume by absorbing or secreting osmolytes and water. Even though pleural mesothelial cells face osmolality changes in pleural effusions, their cell volume regulation properties have been poorly studied. In this study we aim to investigate the effects of osmotic stress on the adhesion and migration rate of benign and malignant pleural mesothelial cells. The effect of osmotic gradients in cell adhesion was studied by crystal violet assay and in cell migration by wound healing assay in Met5-A, M14K and ZL-34 cell lines. The adhesion of M14K and ZL-34 cells was partially inhibited by hyposmotic stress (∼255mOsm) in comparison to isomotic condition (∼295mOsm). Hyperosmotic stress (∼350mOsm) significantly promoted adhesion of Met5-A cells. The migration rate was partially inhibited by hyperosmotic conditions in Met5-A cells and by hyposmotic conditions in ZL-34 cells. M14K cells migration rate was decreased under both hyposmotic and hyperosmotic conditions. Our results indicate that osmolality gradient differentially affects the migratory and adhesive properties of pleural benign and malignant mesothelial cells.