Proteome array identification of bioactive soluble proteins/peptides in Matrigel: relevance to stem cell responses

Matrigel and similar commercial products are extracts of the Engelbreth-Holm–Swarm sarcoma that provide a basement-membrane-like attachment substrate or gel that is used to grow cells on or in, respectively. To ascertain further what proteins may be present in Matrigel, besides its major basement-membrane constituents, an analysis of the expressed liquid of gelled Matrigel was performed using proteome array technology. Among the growth factors/cytokines assayed, high positive detection was found for IGFBP1, IGFBP3, LIF, platelet factor 4, PlGF-2, and VEGF; moderate reactivity was found for cyr61, IGFBP2, IGFBP6, IL-1ra, and NOV; and low, but detectable, responses occurred for aFGF, IL-13, IL-23, M-CSF, and VEGF-B. Among the chemokines assayed, high positive detection was found for MIG and serpin E1; moderate reactivity was found for IP-10, MCP-1, and MCP-5, and low, but detectable, responses occurred for CXCL16, I-TAC, and MIP-1α. Among the other biologically active proteins assayed, high positive detection was found for adiponectin, C5a, endocan, lipocalin-2, sICAM-1, MMP-3, and TIMP-1; moderate reactivity was found for C-reactive protein, coagulation factor III, endoglin, endostatin/collagen XVIII, endothelin-1, ICAM-1, MMP-9, osteopontin, pentraxin-3, and RANTES; and low, but detectable, responses occurred for fetuin A, MMP-8, pentraxin-2, RBP4, resistin, and TIMP-4. The study found several growth factors, chemokines, and biologically active proteins not previously identified in Matrigel, and this may have significance to the interpretations of observed cellular responses when cells are grown on or in Matrigel.