['To study the abnormal cytokeratin (CK) expression, emergence of CK19 with or without CK7, in liver parenchymal cells and the role of laminin (LN), a basement membrane protein, in this process.', 'Six hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines were examined for different CKs, LN and its receptor by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. Double immunofluorescent reaction, laser-scanning confocal microscopy and an in vitro induction procedure were used to demonstrate the role of LN in regulating CK19 expression in these cells.', 'Immunoreactivities for CK8, CK18, CK7 and the receptor for LN were observed in all the six HCC cell lines examined. However, CK19 was merely found in four of the six cell lines, and was in any case associated with LN expression. Laser-scanning confocal microscopy demonstrated the concomitant presence of these two molecules in most of the positive cells. In the two HCC cell lines, originally negative for CK19, addition of LN to the culture medium resulted in an induction of CK19 in a dose-dependent manner. Both the artificially induced and the intrinsic production of CK19 were completely blocked by an antibody to LN.'] Does laminin induce the expression of cytokeratin 19 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells growing in culture?