Behavior of cells at fluid interfaces.

We have cultured the murine cell lines 3T3-L1 and SV-T2 using as a substrate the layer of denatured protein that forms at the phase boundary between culture medium and fluorocarbon fluids. The growth patterns observed on these interfaces differ from those seen on conventional solid substrates. Depending on the cell strain and the composition of the fluorocarbon fluid, cells will tend to clump into isolated aggregates or form nearly confluent cell monolayers containing "lake-like" openings. We demonstrate that these growth patterns can be attributed to the ability of cultured cells to stress and break the protein monolayer on which they grow.