Effects of ECM Proteins and Cationic Polymers on the Adhesion and Proliferation of Rat Islet Cells

The effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and cationic polymers on the adhesion and proliferation of rat islet cells, RIN-5F cells, were investigated. ECM proteins of laminin, fibronectin, vitronectin, type I collagen, type II collagen, and type IV collagen, and cationic polyelectrolytes of poly(L-lysine) and poly(allylamine) were coated on the wells of polystyrene cell culture plates. Their effects on the adhesion and proliferation of RIN-5F in serum-free and serum mediums were compared. The cell number on the laminin-coated surface was the highest among the coated surfaces. Laminin promoted cell adhesion more strongly than did the other ECM proteins and cationic polyelectrolytes. Vitronectin, type IV collagen, and poly(L-lysine) showed moderate effects, but type I collagen and type II collagen did not have any effects on adhesion and proliferation compared with the uncoated polystyrene cell culture plate. Fibronectin promoted cell adhesion but not cell proliferation. Cationic poly(allylamine) had an inhibitory effect in serum-free medium and for longterm culture in serum medium. The ECM proteins of laminin, vitronectin, and type IV collagen, and cationic poly(Llysine) will be useful for the surface modification and construction of biomaterials and scaffolds for islet cell culture and