Localization of two fibronectin-binding glycoproteins in rat liver and primary hepatocytes. Co-distribution in vitro of integrin (alpha 5 beta 1) and non-integrin (AGp110) receptors in cell-substratum adhesion sites.

We have compared the localization of integrin alpha 5 beta 1 and AGp110 (apical glycoprotein of Mr 110 x 10(3]] in rat liver parenchyma and in primary hepatocyte cultures. Integrin alpha 5 beta 1 is a heterodimeric fibronectin receptor. AGp110 is a newly described monomeric glycoprotein of the apical (bile canalicular) membrane domain of liver parenchyma that binds in an RGD-independent manner to fibronectin and mediates spreading of hepatocytes onto fibronectin-coated substrata. Using Western blotting of fractionated liver membranes and immunocytochemistry of liver sections at light- and electron-microscope levels, we have confirmed that AGp110 is a canalicular glycoprotein and have established that integrin is located in approximately equal proportions in the sinusoidal, lateral and canalicular membrane domains. In the canalicular surface domain both glycoproteins are associated with microvilli. Examination of immunolabelled primary hepatocytes spread on fibronectin-coated substrata by light and laser scanning confocal microscopy revealed colocalization of AGp110, integrin, actin and vinculin in substratum-attached microextensions at the periphery of the basal cell surface. Actin filaments that terminated at these cell processes originated from circular sub-cortical actin fibres. Interference reflection microscopy revealed focal adhesive contacts at the edge of the basal cell periphery at the same location where AGp110 and integrin were observed by immunofluorescence. In vitro, a proportion of the primary hepatocytes seeded onto fibronectin-coated substrata aggregated into colonies of several cells with intercellular contacts between neighbouring cells. Cell-substratum contacts containing integrin, AGp110, actin and vinculin followed the contours of these colonies in the same manner as they delineated the basal periphery of single, substratum-attached cells. We conclude that both integrin and AGp110 contribute to hepatocyte-fibronectin adhesive interactions and that intercellular adhesion and cooperation among hepatocytes in their response to fibronectin matrices leads to colony formation and morphological differentiation of parenchymal cell monolayers in vitro.