Impacts of laminin and polyethyleneimine surface coatings on morphology of differentiating human SH-SY5Y cells and networks

The viability and morphological differentiation of the neuronal cells are often enhanced by attachment on surface coating proteins or polymers. Laminin is a basal membrane protein and one of the matrix components in the nervous system. Polyethyleneimine is a positively charged polymer widely used for improving attachment of cell cultures. The aim of this study was to find a favorable surface coating for cultures of differentiating human SH-SY5Y cells in order to promote homogenous cell adhesion, neurite sprouting and formation of the complete network structure. Two surface coatings were examined; laminin and polyethyleneimine alone or when used together. The impacts of the coatings on morphology of undifferentiated or retinoic-acid and cholesterol differentiated human SH-SY5Y cells and networks were then assessed. In addition, the influence of coatings on the number of cell nuclei at 10 days in vitro was quantified. The morphological analysis of the study shows that laminin enables homogenous attachment and oval cell nuclei formation, whereas polyethyleneimine induces clusters of cells in form of multicellular spheroids. Furthermore, laminin supports branching of long neurites and neuronal network formation, whereas polyethyleneimine induces straight neurite bundles between the spheroids of differentiated human cells.