The effects of fibronectin on the migration of human foreskin fibroblasts and Syrian hamster melanoma cells into three-dimensional gels of native collagen fibres.

The effects of fibronectin on the migration of human skin fibroblasts and Syrian hamster melanoma cells into 3-dimensional gels of native collagen fibres have been examined. Cell migration into the 3-dimensional gel was measured by plating cells on the gel surface and then determining the percentage of cells within the gel at various times thereafter by direct microscopic examination. We find that fibronectin bound to collagen inhibits the migration of human skin fibroblasts and stimulates the migration of melanoma cells into the gel matrix. Fibronectin had no apparent effect on cell adhesion to the collagen gels, proliferation or morphology under the conditions studied.