The immortalized human corneal epithelial cells adhere to laminin-10 by using Lutheran glycoproteins and integrin α3β1

We studied the adhesion characteristics of immortalized human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells on purified human laminin (Ln)-10 (α5β1γ1). Immunofluorescence studies with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) revealed the presence of laminin α5 chain receptor Lutheran (Lu) in vivo on the basal cells of cornea and as punctate cell surface-confined reactivity on adhering and spread HCE cells, while α- and β-dystroglycans could not be found. Northern blot analysis showed the presence of 4.0 and 2.8 kb Lu transcripts in HCE cells. The results showed that Ln-10 induced adhesion and spreading of HCE cells without formation of focal adhesions. Quantitative adhesion assay showed that Lu together with integrin (Int) α3β1 independently mediated the adhesion of HCE cells to Ln-10.