Fig. 2. Comparison of migration and adhesion of S16 cells on different extracellular matrix substrates. (A) Effect of matrilin 2 on SC adhesion. SC suspensions were incubated for 30 minutes in wells of 24-well tissue culture dishes coated with different ECM substrates. After washing, the adherent cells were fixed and counted using phase-contrast microscopy. Results are expressed as a percentage of the number of cells adhering to laminin, which was normalized to 100%. Statistical analysis showed a significant increase (^***P<0.001) of the numbers of cells adhering to different substrates versus non-coated (nc) dishes. Note that also the differences in adhesion between laminin and fibronectin or matrilin 2 are significant. (B,C) S16 SCs migration on different coating substrates determined by the agarose drop migration assay. (B) Mean distances of SCs migration on different ECM substrates, fibronectin, laminin and matrilin 2. All ECM molecules promoted SCs migration compared with the uncoated control substrate (^***P<0.001). In addition, the distances of migration on matrilin-2 surfaces were significantly increased (^***P<0.001) in comparison with laminin- or fibronectin-coated surfaces. ^**P<0.01. (C) Cell migration was analyzed using phase-contrast microscopy. Scale bar: 100 µm.