Leukocyte function-associated antigen-1-dependent adhesion of rat ascites hepatoma AH66F to mesentery-derived mesothelial cells

Rat ascites hepatoma AH66F cells adhered better than AH130 cells to mesentery-derived mesothelial cells (M-cells), though both cells secreted M, 92,000 matrix metalloproteinase on a gelatin zymogram with similar activity. AH66F cells expressed leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a ligand of LFA-1, on the cell surface, while AH130 cells had ICAM-1 alone. The adhesion to M-cells of AH66F cells was inhibited to the adhesion level of AH130 cells by anti-rat LFA-1 α- and/or β-chain monoclonal antibody (mAb) and also by anti-rat ICAM-1 mAb. This is the first report to show the LFA-1-dependent adhesion of cells other than leukocytes, because AH66F cells did not express CD45, T cell-αβ receptor or CD11b/c (Mac-1/p150,95). These results indicate that a part of the adhesion of AH66F cells to M-cells is due to LFA-1/ICAM-1 interaction, and we suggest that this characteristic feature of AH66F cells may be related to the malignant properties.