A metalloproteinase, capable of destroying cultured brain tissue isolated from rat glioma cells
Lund-Johansen, M.; Rucklidge, G.J.; Milne, G.; Bjerkvig, R.
Anticancer Research 11(2): 1001-1006
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-7005 PMID: 2064306 Document Number: 375810
A continuous rat glioma cell line, BT5C, which causes severe invasion and tissue destruction when cocultured with fetal rat brain aggregates, secreted into the culture medium a metalloproteinase in a hMr latent (86000) and an lMr active (76000) isoform. Purified preparations of the enzyme were added to cultures of fetal rat brain aggregates, which were then examined by light and by scanning electron microscopy. After 48h of enzyme exposure, destruction of the neural tissue was observed. This was morphologically similar to the tissue destruction seen when BT5C spheroids were cocultured with brain aggregates. The protease had no effect on the morphology of BT 5C tumour spheroids. The report suggests a possible role of metalloproteinases in tissue degradation during brain tumour invasion.