Expression of annexin VI in A431 carcinoma cells suppresses proliferation: a possible role for annexin VI in cell growth regulation.

Human A431 cells exhibit many characteristics typical of transformed cells, such as lack of contact inhibition and reduced growth factor requirement. We have used these cells as a model for the study of annexin VI function, since they do not normally express this protein. In this study we isolated two stably transfected clones, both of which were found to express annexin VI at physiological levels, and examined various growth parameters associated with the transformed phenotype. In low serum, normal A431 cells had doubling times similar to those observed in high serum. However, although the annexin VI transfectants grew only slightly more slowly than controls in high serum, their doubling time was significantly increased in low serum. Moreover, in low serum the annexin VI transfectants stopped proliferating after reaching confluence, indicating contact inhibition. Fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis revealed that the annexin VI+ cells were growth arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle when cultured in low serum, whereas annexin VI- clones exhibited the same proportion of mitotic cells in both low and high serum. Thus, expression of annexin VI in a heterologous cell line has a moderating influence on cell proliferation suggesting a possible role for annexin VI in cell growth regulation.