Polarity and differentiation of human rectal adenocarcinoma cells in suspension and collagen gel cultures

HRA-19a1.1. cells, derived from a primary human rectal adenocarcinoma, form polarized monolayers when grown on tissue-culture plastic. The apical membrane of the cells is in contact with the culture medium while the basolateral surface is attached to the plastic substratum. Cells cultured on non-tissue-culture plastic form floating colonies. Cells within these colonies are orientated so that their apical membrane is in contact with the culture medium while the basolateral membrane faces the centre of the colony. When these colonies are embedded in collagen gel the cells organize to form glandular structures similar to those observed in xenografts of this cell line. In addition a reversal in the orientation of cell polarity is observed with the basolateral membrane now in contact with the collagen gel, while the apical membrane faces lumina within the colony. This interaction is specific to collagen gel, as in a control experiment where colonies are embedded in agarose gel, neither a reversal in polarity nor the formation of glandular structures is observed. These results demonstrate an induction of glandular organization in human rectal adenocarcinoma cells by collagen gel. In addition an increased absorptive cell differentiation and reversal in cell polarity is observed in response to collagen gel.