PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Integrin alpha4”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Rolipram inhibits polarization and migration of human T lymphocytes.

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties and seem to have a great potential in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases; however, an overall study on the effects of specific phosphodiesterase inhibitors, such as rolipram on the processes involved in the extravasation of lymphoid cells has not been performed. In this work we have assessed the effect of rolipram on the adhesion, polarization, and migration of normal human T lymphocytes. We found that low concentrations of rolipram were able to inhibit significantly the adhesion of T cells to the beta1 and beta2 integrin ligands vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1. Rolipram also interfered with the activation of integrins, and significantly inhibited the homotypic aggregation of T lymphocytes induced by anti-beta1 and anti-alpha4 integrin chain monoclonal antibodies. In addition, rolipram had a downregulatory effect on the activation of T cells, and significantly diminished the expression of the activation antigens CD69, CD25, and CD98 induced by phytohemagglutinin. Finally, this drug inhibited the polarization and transendothelial migration of T lymphocytes induced by the chemokine CXCL12 (SDF-1) and the chemotactic cytokine interleukin-15. The results indicate that rolipram, at low concentrations, exerts an important anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effect, and suggest that this selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor may be an effective tool for the therapy of immune-mediated diseases.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Regulatory mechanisms of eosinophil adhesion to and transmigration across endothelial cells by alpha4 and beta2 integrins.

To participate in allergic airway inflammation, it is necessary for blood eosinophils (Eos) to adhere to and migrate across pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (EC). Accumulating evidence has established that Eos adhesion molecules, such as alpha4 and beta2 integrins, play central roles in these processes. We have reported that Eos spontaneously adhere to recombinant human (rh)-VCAM-1, while adhesion to rh-ICAM-1 requires a second stimulus such as GM-CSF. Furthermore, our study employing human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMEC) revealed that although the alpha4 integrin/VCAM-1 pathway is crucial for the firm adhesion of Eos, subsequent transendothelial migration occurred dependent on the beta2 integrin/ICAM-1 pathway. We also discuss secretagogues that would affect Eos recruitment to the airways via regulation of alpha4 and beta2 integrins.

Animals↗

Quantitative analysis of adhesion molecules on cellular constituents of the human uterine microenvironment under the influence of estrogen and progesterone.

The uterus contains all the components of a tertiary lymphoid compartment. We hypothesize that specific leukocyte recruitment to the endometrium during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy limits the type of immunocyte that gains access. The present study utilized flow cytometry to define and quantify adhesion molecules possibly used by decidual infiltrating lymphocytes (DIL) as homing receptors, uterine microvascular myometrial endothelial cells (UtMVE-Myo) as addressins, and secretory endometrial stroma cells (STO) as retainment factors. Human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes were used as control cells for comparison studies. DIL were composed of predominantly lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-1+, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1+, LFA-2+, LFA-3+, gp150,95+, alpha1beta1+, Hermes cell adhesion molecule (H-CAM)+, and neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM)+ (CD56(bright)) memory/effector natural killer cells. A significant number of UtMVEC-Myo expressed platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM)-1, a percentage were uniquely LFA-3+, and alpha4 integrin expression was uniquely high. An increased number of STO uniquely expressed alpha3, beta3, and LFA-3, whereas alpha2, alpha4, alphaVbeta3, and H-CAM were significantly increased. Possible unique adhesions of DIL:UtMVEC-Myo included SLe(x):PECAM, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1:alpha4, and LFA-2:LFA-3, whereas DIL:STO included LFA-2:LFA-3 and N-CAM:N-CAM. Unique molecules on DIL may also associate with extracellular matrix (ECM) or complement on UtMVEC-Myo or STO to form gp150,95:fibrinogen/iC3b/C3dg, alpha1beta1:laminin (LM)/collagen (CO), and ICAM-1:fibronectin (FN) interactions. Bridges of ECM may also form between DIL and UtMVEC-Myo adhesion molecules including ICAM-1:FN:ICAM-1 and alpha4beta1:FN:alpha4beta1. DIL:ECM:STO interactions may involve alpha2beta1:CO:alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1:LM/CO/FN:alpha3beta1, alphaVbeta3:VN:alphaVbeta3, and H-CAM:hyaluronate:H-CAM. It is likely that many adhesion molecules play a role in the recruitment and retainment of specialized lymphocytes within the uterine microenvironment. (Mackay et al., 1990).

Adult↗

Endometrial dating and determination of the window of implantation in healthy fertile women.

OBJECTIVE: To reassess endometrial morphological criteria of normality identifying the best morphological and molecular "implantation window" indicators in normal women. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: Assisted reproductive unit. PATIENT(S): Fourteen healthy volunteers. INTERVENTION(S): Blood sampling for LH, E(2), and progesterone (P4) determinations. Daily vaginal ultrasounds. Two endometrial biopsies per volunteer, 7 days apart, during luteal phase. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Endometrial dating, pinopodes formation, immunohistochemical determination of integrins (alphavbeta3, alpha4beta1), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), interleukin-1 receptor type I (IL-1R tI), mouse ascites Golgi (MAG), the transmembrane mucin (MUC-1), and P4 receptor expression. RESULT(S): In 26 of 28 biopsies observers agreed; in two biopsies there was a discrepancy (difference of 72 hours). With use of LH peak, 24 of 26 samples were in phase, and 2 were 3 days behind. Pinopodes appeared on days 20-21 and persisted through day 28 in small groups or larger areas. beta3 Integrin was highly expressed in luminal and glandular epithelium from day 22 through 28; 48 hours thereafter pinopodes appeared. alpha4 Subunit exhibited luminal epithelium reaction positivity on days 22-23 and glands on days 18-23. LIF and IL-1R tI showed weak, erratic expression. MAG antibodies showed luminal epithelium expression up to day 22 and glands up to day 25. MUC-1 showed positivity during the whole luteal phase. P4 receptors were positive through day 20 and at the end of the luteal phase. CONCLUSION(S): The three most cited markers that frame the window of implantation do not correlate in our material. Pinopodes are present from day 20 on; beta3 and alpha4 integrin subunits indicate a window opening on days 22-23.

Adult↗

Differential expression of integrin alpha5beta1 in human abdominal aortic aneurysm and healthy aortic tissues and its significance in pathogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common aged disease of human aorta with increasing incidence. It is characterized by dramatic vascular remodeling via proteolysis and degradation of matrix proteins. Integrins are important cellular receptors for matrix proteins, which may have an association with pathological remodeling. The present study was undertaken to analyze the expression of integrin subunits in human aneurysmal aortas and with healthy aortic tissues as controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of integrin genes in AAA specimens and healthy human aortic tissues was detected by RT-PCR technique. The correlation of variation and distribution of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and integrin protein expression in the corresponding tissues were studied immunohistochemically. RESULTS: The gene transcripts coding for integrin alpha4, alpha5, alphaV, beta1, beta3, beta5, and beta6 subunits were constitutively expressed in the normal aortas. Only gene expressions of integrin alpha5 and beta1 were significantly decreased by 81% and 85%, respectively, in AAA specimens (P < 0.005) when compared with healthy aortic specimens. No age dependence of the expression of integrin alpha5beta1 genes was found. Significant reduction of medial SMC density was confirmed in corresponding AAA compared with control aortas. Immunoreactivity of integrin alpha5beta1 receptor was found to be exclusively localized within the medial layer of the parallel normal aortic sections, whereas this protein was absent in the destructive media of aneurysmal aortic sections. CONCLUSIONS: The marked decrease in integrin alpha5beta1 expressions was unique to aneurysmal aortic tissues and correlated to a decrease in density of SMCs, which are the major cells in maintaining the structure stability of normal aortas. As integrin alpha5beta1 specifically binds fibronectin and collagen, those results may suggest that the absence of integrin alpha5beta1 activity impair matrix protein attachment and alter the architecture in aortic media thereby lead to the deformity of aorta and aneurysm formation.

Adult↗

Intravital observation of adhesion of lamina propria lymphocytes to microvessels of small intestine in mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Although the recirculation of lymphocytes through the intestinal mucosa is important for the specific immune defense, the homing of lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs) has not been clearly understood. The aim of this study is to compare, under an intravital microscope, the dynamic process of lymphocyte-endothelium recognition and binding in the murine intestinal mucosa of T lymphocytes from the lamina propria of intestine to that of T lymphocytes from the spleen. METHODS: LPLs isolated from nonlymphoid areas of the small intestine and spleen (SPL) were fluorescence-labeled and injected into a jugular vein of recipient mice. Microvessels of the villus mucosa and ileal Peyer's patches were observed under an intravital fluorescence microscope, and the effects of anti-adhesion-molecule antibodies on lymphocyte-endothelial interaction were investigated. RESULTS: LPLs accumulated abundantly in the microvessels of villus tips but not in the submucosal venules or postcapillary venules of Peyer's patches, where SPLs migrated selectively. The accumulation of LPLs in the villus tips was almost completely inhibited by anti-beta7-integrin and was significantly inhibited by anti-mucosal addressin cell-adhesion molecule 1 (MAdCAM-1) and anti-alpha4-integrin. Significant MAdCAM-1 expression was observed in the microvessels of the villus mucosa. Some SPLs adhered to the nonlymphoid mucosa, but most soon detached. CONCLUSIONS: It was shown in vivo for the first time that T lymphocytes from the lamina propria but not from the spleen adhere selectively, mostly via alpha4beta7 and MAdCAM-1, to the microvessels of villus tips of the intestine, but not to the postcapillary venules of Peyer's patches.

Animals↗

Identification of the ligand binding site for the integrin alpha9 beta1 in the third fibronectin type III repeat of tenascin-C.

The integrin alpha9 subunit forms a single heterodimer, alpha9 beta1 that mediates cell adhesion to a site within the third fibronectin type III repeat of tenascin-C (TNfn3). In contrast to at least 3 other integrins that bind to this region of tenascin-C, alpha9 beta1 does not recognize the common integrin recognition motif, Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD). In this report, we have used substitution mutagenesis to identify a unique ligand recognition sequence in TNfn3. We introduced mutations substituting alanine for each of the acidic residues in or adjacent to each of the exposed loops predicted from the solved crystal structure. Most of these mutations had little or no effect on adhesion of alpha9-transfected SW480 colon carcinoma cells, but mutations of either of two acidic residues in the B-C loop region markedly reduced attachment of these cells. In contrast, cells expressing the integrin alphav beta3, previously reported to bind to the RGD sequence in the adjacent F-G loop, attached to all mutant fragments except one in which the RGD site was mutated to RAA. The peptide, AEIDGIEL, based on the sequence of human tenascin-C in this region blocked the binding of alpha9-transfected cells, but not beta3-transfected cells to wild type TNfn3. This sequence contains a tripeptide, IDG, homologous to the sequences LDV, IDA, and LDA in fibronectin and IDS in VCAM-1 recognized by the closely related integrin alpha4 beta1. These findings support the idea that this tripeptide motif serves as a ligand binding site for the alpha4/alpha9 subfamily of integrins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ligand density and integrin repertoire regulate cellular response to LPA.

Engagement of integrin receptors by the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein fibronectin (FN) activates intracellular signaling, cytoskeletal reorganization and cellular tension. The soluble factor lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) acts through Rho GTPase and its effector Rho kinase (ROCK) to enhance alpha5beta1 integrin-mediated cell spreading on the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) cell-binding domain of FN. A second cell-binding site for alpha4 integrins resides in the CS1 segment of the alternatively spliced V region of FN. We show here that LPA treatment of alpha4beta1-expressing CHOalpha4 cells on FN induced a significant decrease in spread cell area. LPA also decreased apoptosis induced by serum-deprivation in CHOalpha4 and human A375 melanoma cells in an alpha4beta1-dependent manner. Improvement in cell viability and changes in cell morphology were dependent on ROCK and on the number of substrate binding sites for alpha4beta1. LPA signaling combined with alpha4beta1-mediated adhesion appears to sustain cell viability in situations where FN matrix is limiting. Such cooperation may impact dynamic cellular events such as wound healing, fibrosis, and metastasis.

Animals↗

Integrin alpha4beta1 function is required for cell survival in developing retina.

In the retina, integrins in the beta1 family have been shown to be important in many phases of neuronal development, particularly neuroblast migration and axon outgrowth. However, the functions of specific integrin heterodimers are not well defined. In this study, we investigated the functions of beta1 integrins in developing chicken retina by expression of a dominant-negative beta1A construct using a replication-competent retrovirus. Inhibition of integrins using this approach resulted in alteration of cell morphology and increased apoptosis, but did not preclude migration and axon elongation. In an attempt to identify which specific beta1 heterodimer was important, expression and function of the alpha4beta1 heterodimer were also investigated. At early developmental stages, alpha4 protein and mRNA were detected in undifferentiated neuroblasts throughout the retina. At later stages, expression was confined to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and amacrine cells. A small molecule antagonist of alpha4 integrins was shown to inhibit neurite outgrowth on recombinant soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), a known ligand of alpha4beta1. Introduction of alpha4 antagonist in vivo gave rise to increased apoptosis and led to a thinning of the retina and reduced numbers of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). We conclude that the integrin alpha4beta1 is important for survival of developing retinal neurons, including RGCs.

Animals↗

Integrin alpha4beta1/VCAM-1 pathway mediates primary adhesion of RAW117 lymphoma cells to hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells under flow.

Adhesion and stabilization of circulating tumor cells to endothelial cells in target blood vessels play an important role in the complex process of metastasis. We examined the cell surface receptors involved in the liver-metastatic adhesive interactions of murine RAW117 large-cell lymphoma cells to unstimulated hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSE) under physiological flow conditions. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 are constitutively expressed on the surfaces of both HSE and RAW117 cells. However, monoclonal antibody (mAb) blockade studies showed that ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 affected neither the attachment nor the stabilization step of the adhesion of RAW117 cells to HSE cell monolayers under flow. In contrast, RAW117 cells required a significantly lower shear stress to establish adhesion to HSE cells when VCAM-1 receptors on HSE cells were blocked with mAb. Furthermore, the presence of the anti-VCAM-1 mAb significantly decreased the extent of adhesion compared to that of the control, without affecting adherent cell stabilization times. Blocking the alpha4 integrin subunits present mainly on RAW117 cells produced similar results to those previously observed with anti-VCAM-1 mAb. Although constitutively present mainly on the surfaces of RAW117 cells, MAdCAM-1 and beta7 integrin subunit do not appear to play a role in either the arrest or stabilization of RAW117 cells on HSE cell monolayers. However, blocking the beta1 integrin subunit on the RAW117-H10 cells reduced adhesion to the same extent as anti-alpha4 and anti-VCAM-1 treatments. These observations suggest that an interaction of integrin alpha4/beta1 on RAW117 cells with liver endothelial VCAM-1 occurs during the early stages of the adhesion process and may be important in liver metastasis.

Animals↗

L-selectin, alpha 4 beta 1, and alpha 4 beta 7 integrins participate in CD4+ T cell recruitment to chronically inflamed small intestine.

CD4+ T cells are essential for development and perpetuation of Crohn's disease, a chronic immune-mediated condition that affects primarily the small intestine. Using novel models of Crohn's disease-like ileitis (i.e., SAMP1/YitFc and CD4+ T cell transfer models), we have begun to understand the adhesive pathways that mediate lymphocyte trafficking to the chronically inflamed small bowel. Expansion of the CD4/beta7+ population and increased mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) expression were observed within the intestinal lamina propria with disease progression. However, Ab blockade of the beta7 integrin, the alpha4beta7 heterodimer, MAdCAM-1, or L-selectin did not attenuate inflammation. Blockade of two pathways (L-selectin and MAdCAM-1 or alpha4 integrins) was required to improve ileitis. Further analyses showed that 55 +/- 7% of the mesenteric lymph node alpha4beta7+CD4 expressed L-selectin. These L-selectin+ T cells were the main producers of TNF-alpha and the predominant ileitis-inducing subpopulation. Mechanistically, combined blockade of L-selectin and MAdCAM-1 depleted the intestinal lamina propria of CD4+ T cells that aberrantly coexpressed alpha4beta7 and alpha4beta1 integrins, markedly decreasing local production of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. Thus, pathogenic CD4+ T cells not only use the physiologic alpha4beta7/MAdCAM-1 pathway, but alternatively engage alpha4beta1 and L-selectin to recirculate to the chronically inflamed small intestine.

Animals↗

Melanoma chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan enhances FAK and ERK activation by distinct mechanisms.

Melanoma chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (MCSP) is an early cell surface melanoma progression marker implicated in stimulating tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays a pivotal role in integrating growth factor and adhesion-related signaling pathways, facilitating cell spreading and migration. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2, implicated in tumor growth and survival, has also been linked to clinical melanoma progression. We have cloned the MCSP core protein and expressed it in the MCSP-negative melanoma cell line WM1552C. Expression of MCSP enhances integrin-mediated cell spreading, FAK phosphorylation, and activation of ERK1/2. MCSP transfectants exhibit extensive MCSP-rich microspikes on adherent cells, where it also colocalizes with alpha4 integrin. Enhanced activation of FAK and ERK1/2 by MCSP appears to involve independent mechanisms because inhibition of FAK activation had no effect on ERK1/2 phosphorylation. These results indicate that MCSP may facilitate primary melanoma progression by enhancing the activation of key signaling pathways important for tumor invasion and growth.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Overexpression of homeobox gene HOXD3 induces coordinate expression of metastasis-related genes in human lung cancer cells.

Homeobox-containing genes are expressed in spatiotemporal fashion during embryogenesis and act as master transcription-regulating factors which control the expression of a variety of genes involved in morphogenesis. They are also expressed in a tissue-specific manner in normal adult tissues and appear to give cells spatial information in the maintenance of their architectural integrity. We transfected a HOXD3 class I homeobox-containing gene into human lung cancer A549 cells and investigated alterations in gene expressions and phenotypes related to the maintenance of tissue architecture in HOXD3-overexpressing A549 cells. In the HOXD3-overexpressing cell lines, expression of E-cadherin was lost and plakoglobin was strongly repressed, whereas integrin alpha3 and beta3 were up-regulated and N-cadherin and integrin alpha4 were newly expressed. Compared with parental and control transfectant lines, the HOXD3-overexpressing cell lines showed highly motile and invasive activity. Blocking experiments using anti-integrin beta1 and beta3 suggested that the increased haptotaxis of the HOXD3-overexpressing cells to vitronectin resulted from increased expression and activation of integrin alphavbeta3, and that overexpression of the HOXD3 gene converted the integrin beta1-dependent haptotaxis to fibronectin into both integrin beta1- and beta3-dependent one. HOXD3 overexpression increased production of matrix-degrative enzymes including matrix metalloproteinase-2 and urokinase-plasminogen activator. When the tumor cells were intravenously injected into the tail veins of nude mice, HOXD3 transfectants formed a significantly large number of metastatic foci in lungs compared with the control transfectants. These findings suggest that HOXD3 can act as a metastasis-promoting gene in human lung cancer A549 cells.

Antigens, CD↗

Kinetic and mechanical basis of rolling through an integrin and novel Ca2+-dependent rolling and Mg2+-dependent firm adhesion modalities for the alpha 4 beta 7-MAdCAM-1 interaction.

We studied interactions in shear flow of cells bearing integrins alpha4beta1 or alpha4beta7 with VCAM-1 and MAdCAM-1 substrates in different divalent cations. Interestingly, Ca(2+) was essential for tethering in flow and rolling interactions through both alpha4 integrins. Mg(2+) promoted firm adhesion of alpha4beta7-expressing cells on MAdCAM-1 but with much lower tethering efficiency in shear flow. The k(off) degrees of 1.28 s(-1) and resistance of the receptor-ligand bond to force (estimated as a bond interaction distance or sigma) for transient tethers on MAdCAM-1 were similar to values for E- and P-selectins. By contrast to results in Ca(2+) or Ca(2+) + Mg(2+), in Mg(2+) the alpha4beta7-MAdCAM-1 k(off) degrees decreased 20-fold to 0.046 s(-1), and the bond was weaker, providing an explanation for the finding of firm adhesion under these conditions. Shear enhanced tethering to MAdCAM-1, thereby contributing to the stability of rolling. Comparisons to selectins demonstrate that the kinetic and mechanical properties of the alpha4beta7 integrin are well suited to its intermediate position in adhesion cascades, in which it bridges rapid rolling through selectins to firm adhesion through beta2 integrins.

Calcium↗

Synthesis and SAR of N-benzoyl-L-biphenylalanine derivatives: discovery of TR-14035, a dual alpha(4)beta(7)/alpha(4)beta(1) integrin antagonist.

alpha(4)beta(1) and alpha(4)beta(7) integrins are key regulators of physiologic and pathologic responses in inflammation and autoimmune disease. The effectiveness of anti-integrin antibodies to attenuate a number of inflammatory/immune conditions provides a strong rationale to target integrins for drug development. Important advances have been made in identifying potent and selective candidates, peptides and peptidomimetics, for further development. Herein, we report the discovery of a series of novel N-benzoyl-L-biphenylalanine derivatives that are potent inhibitors of alpha4 integrins. The potency of the initial lead compound (1: IC(50) alpha(4)beta(7)/alpha(4)beta(1)=5/33 microM) was optimized via sequential manipulation of substituents to generate low nM, orally bioavailable dual alpha(4)beta(1)/alpha(4)beta(7) antagonists. The SAR also led to the identification of several subnanomolar antagonists (134, 142, and 143). Compound 81 (TR-14035; IC(50) alpha(4)beta(7)/alpha(4)beta(1)=7/87 nM) has completed Phase I studies in Europe. The synthesis, SAR and biological evaluation of these compounds are described.

Cell Adhesion↗

Human cytotrophoblasts adopt a vascular phenotype as they differentiate. A strategy for successful endovascular invasion?

Establishment of the human placenta requires that fetal cytotrophoblast stem cells in anchoring chorionic villi become invasive. These cytotrophoblasts aggregate into cell columns and invade both the uterine interstitium and vasculature, anchoring the fetus to the mother and establishing blood flow to the placenta. Cytotrophoblasts colonizing spiral arterioles replace maternal endothelium as far as the first third of the myometrium. We show here that differentiating cytotrophoblasts transform their adhesion receptor phenotype so as to resemble the endothelial cells they replace. Cytotrophoblasts in cell columns show reduced E-cadherin staining and express VE-(endothelial) cadherin, platelet-endothelial adhesion molecule-1, vascular endothelial adhesion molecule-1, and alpha-4-integrins. Cytotrophoblasts in the uterine interstitium and maternal vasculature continue to express these receptors, and, like endothelial cells during angiogenesis, also stain for alphaVbeta3. In functional studies, alphaVbeta3 and VE-cadherin enhance, while E-cadherin restrains, cytotrophoblast invasiveness. Cytotrophoblasts expressing alpha4 integrins bound immobilized VCAM-1 in vitro, suggesting that this receptor-pair could mediate cytotrophoblast-endothelium or cytotrophoblast-cytotrophoblast interactions in vivo, during endovascular invasion. In the pregnancy disorder preeclampsia, in which endovascular invasion remains superficial, cytotrophoblasts fail to express most of these endothelial markers (Zhou et al., 1997. J. Clin. Invest. 99:2152-2164.), suggesting that this adhesion phenotype switch is required for successful endovascular invasion and normal placentation.

Antigens, CD↗

Macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha enhances in a different manner adhesion of hematopoietic progenitor cells from bone marrow, cord blood, and mobilized peripheral blood.

Regulatory mechanisms governing adhesion of hematopoietic progenitor cells to the stromal nische are poorly understood. Growth factors such as stem cell factor (SCF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and thrombopoietin were reported to upregulate the adhesion of hematopoietic progenitors to immobilized fibronectin through activation of integrin alpha4beta1 and alpha5beta1. Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha is a C-C chemokine that suppresses colony formation by stem/progenitor cells in vitro. We asked if MIP-1alpha would modulate the adhesive phenotype of colony-forming cells (CFCs) obtained from healthy donor bone marrow (BM), cord blood (CB), and mobilized peripheral blood (mPB) CD34+ cells, in comparison with SCF, using immobilized fibronectin. SCF significantly increased the level of adhesion of CFCs from BM, CB, and mPB. On the other hand, MIP-1alpha significantly increased the level of adhesion of CFCs from BM and CB, but less so from mPB. The effects of MIP-1alpha were inhibited by blocking antibodies to integrin alpha4, alpha5, or beta1, and polymerization plus rearrangement of F-actin were observed in affected cells by labeling with rhodamine-conjugated phalloidine. These data indicate that the effect of MIP-1alpha on the adhesive phenotype of CFCs is mediated by modulation of the organization of integrin. The amount of MIP-1alpha receptor on mPB was less than for BM or CB, which may explain the distinct characteristics in the adhesive response induced by MIP-1alpha. We suggest that hematopoietic progenitor cells from different sources may be heterogeneous with respect to maturation, integrin affinity, MIP-1alpha receptor expression, and regulation of MIP-1alpha signaling. Our data indicate that MIP-1alpha may affect migration, homing, and mobilization of hematopoietic progenitors by modulating the adhesive phenotype of these cells.

Actins↗

Stimulation of tyrosine phosphorylation after ligation of beta7 and beta1 integrins on human B cells.

B lymphocytes express several members of the integrin family of adhesion molecules that mediate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. In addition to beta1 integrins, predominantly alpha4 beta1, mature B cells also express alpha4 beta7, which is a receptor for vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and fibronectin, and is also involved in the homing of B cells to mucosal sites through binding to a third ligand, mucosal address in cell adhesion molecule-1. Here we describe that crosslinking of alpha4 beta7 integrins on B cell lines and normal tonsillar B cells, induces tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple substrates of 105-130 kD, indicating that beta7 integrin plays a role as signaling molecule in B cells. This pattern of phosphorylated proteins was very similar to that induced following ligation of alpha4 beta1. Interestingly, ligation of alpha5 beta1 or alpha6 beta1 also stimulated the 105-125 kD group of phosphorylated proteins, whereas ligation of beta2 integrins did not. The focal adhesion tyrosine kinase p125FAK was identified as one of these substrates. Beta1 or beta7 mediated tyrosine phosphorylations were markedly decreased when the microfilament assembly was inhibited by cytochalasin B. These results suggest that intracellular signals initiated by different integrins in B cells may converge, to similar cytoskeleton-dependent tyrosine phosphorylated proteins.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗