Enhancement of cell function through heterotypic cell–cell interactions using E-cadherin-expressing NIH3T3 cells

An epithelial cell adhesion molecule, E-cadherin was expressed in NIH3T3 fibroblasts, and cell–cell interactions between keratinocytes and fibroblasts, or between hepatocytes and fibroblasts were artificially engineered. When the E-cadherin-expressing NIH3T3 cells were co-cultured with rat hepatocytes, the cell–cell contacts were formed with high frequency, and enhanced albumin secretion was observed.