Enhanced production of carcinoembryonic antigen by CW-2 cells cultured on polymeric membranes immobilized with extracellular matrix proteins

Abstract

Cell growth and the production of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were investigated in human colorectal adenocarcinoma tumor (CW-2) cells cultured on extracellular matrix (ECM) protein membranes, heat-treated poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylamine) (PVA-EA) membranes, and PVA-EA membranes containing immobilized ECM proteins. The highest concentration of CEA was found in the cell culture media of CW-2 cells on collagen (COL)-immobilized PVA-EA membranes. This is explained by the flexible mobility of COL on the COL-immobilized PVA-EA membranes causing a specific cell response for the production of CEA. An inverse relationship was observed between either the cell density or the CEA concentration in the cell culture media and the amount of fibronectin (FN) adsorbed on the COL-immobilized membranes. The CEA concentration in the cell culture media was directly related to the cell density, which, in turn, is inversely related to the amount of FN secreted by CW-2 cells. These findings indicate that cells tend to attach to the surface by secreting ECM proteins such as FN when they are grown on substrates that provide weak cell attachment.