Signal transduction in adherent and non-adherent human cell lines after fibronectin stimulation

It is shown that adherent and non-adherent human ovarian carcinoma cells (O VP 10) secrete MMPs and their production was stimulated by fibronectin as d ocumented by gelatinise zymography. These cells also presented an increase of ERK phosphorylating activity following fibronectin stimulation, regardle ss of their adhesion. Contrary to OVP 10 cells, the human urothelial cells (HCV-29) are more anchorage-dependent. They only secreted the MMPs under ad herent conditions and they revealed a lower level of basal and fibronectin stimulated ERK phosphorylation activity. In addition, non-adhering HCV-29 c ells showed post translational down-regulation of focal adhesion kinase.