Cell-matrix interactions induce tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinases ERK1 and ERK2 and PLCgamma-1 in two-dimensional and three-dimensional cultures of human fibroblasts.

Using immunoprecipitation and phosphotyrosine detection by Western blotting, intracellular signaling intermediates were analyzed in human primary dermal fibroblasts, either seeded as monolayers on collagen I coats (2D) or seeded within three-dimensional collagen I lattices (3D). Previous results demonstrated that integrin activation in these systems resulted in a cascade of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, including focal adhesion kinase (D. Roeckel and T.

Collagen and collagenase gene expression in three-dimensional collagen lattices are differentially regulated by alpha 1 beta 1 and alpha 2 beta 1 integrins.

The reorganization of extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important function in many biological and pathophysiological processes. Culture of fibroblasts in a three-dimensional collagenous environment represents a suitable system to study the underlying mechanisms resulting from cell-ECM interaction, which leads to reprogramming of fibroblast biosynthetic capacity. The aim of this study was to identify receptors that transduce ECM signals into cellular events, resulting in reprogramming of connective tissue metabolism.

Biochemical and functional characterization of the murine ros protooncogene.

The ros gene was originally found because it can, when mutated, induce malignant transformation. The protooncogene encodes an orphan receptor tyrosine kinase. We report here the isolation and characterization of the mouse c-ros cDNA and, in addition, the biochemical characterization of the receptor.