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Reduction of tumorigenicity by alpha 3 integrin in a rhabdomyosarcoma cell line.

The expression levels of integrin adhesion receptors have often been correlated with neoplastic transformation and invasiveness. To investigate more definitively the role of the integrin VLA-3 (alpha 3 beta 1) in tumor cell behavior, we transfected alpha 3 subunit cDNA into human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells. Transfectants expressing high levels of alpha 3 beta 1 on their cell surface displayed an altered morphology and decreased anchorage-dependent growth in vitro. Cells expressing alpha 3 also displayed marked reduction in anchorage-independent growth in soft agar and in their ability to form tumors when injected subcutaneously into athymic nude mice. Thus, VLA-3 can repress the transformed phenotype of rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cells. Similar changes in morphology and growth characteristics were observed in cells expressing a chimeric molecule X3C4 in which the alpha 3 cytoplasmic domain had been exchanged with that of the alpha 4 integrin subunit. Therefore, alpha 3 inhibitory effects in RD cells appear not to require specific signalling through the alpha 3 cytoplasmic domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression patterns of adhesion receptors in the developing mouse lung: functional implications.

A detailed, immunohistological study of mouse lung development from the first appearance of primary lung buds off the laryngo tracheal groove through the formation of the mature, adult lung has been carried out using monoclonal antibodies specific for endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, adhesion receptors and markers of mature endothelial cell function. These included mAbs specific for PECAM-1, alpha-smooth muscle actin, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, VCAM-1, alpha 4 and alpha 6 integrin subunits, thrombomodulin and factor VIII. The results document a dynamic pattern of receptor expression and indicate that the expansion of the pulmonary vascular system may take place by both angiogenic and vasculogenic processes. They further document differences in receptor expression by vascular and airway smooth muscle. ICAM-1 expression was primarily extravascular during development. The expression patterns of alpha 4 integrin and its counter receptor VCAM-1 lacked the complementarity that might be expected if they were functioning as a receptor/counter-receptor pair in lung development. Thrombomodulin expression patterns support a major role for the thrombin/ thrombomodulin system in lung development. The expression of thrombomodulin only at sites of airway branching suggests that the thrombin/thrombomodulin system could play a pivotal, regulatory role in branching morphogenesis.

Actins↗

Novel strategies for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: Selective inhibition of cytokines and adhesion molecules.

The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not yet been clarified and immunosuppressive agents which non-specifically reduce inflammation and immunity have been used in the conventional therapies for IBD. Evidence indicates that a dysregulation of mucosal immunity in the gut of IBD causes an overproduction of inflammatory cytokines and trafficking of effector leukocytes into the bowel, thus leading to an uncontrolled intestinal inflammation. Such recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of IBD created a recent trend of novel biological therapies which specifically inhibit the molecules involved in the inflammatory cascade. Major targets for such treatment are inflammatory cytokines and their receptors, and adhesion molecules. A chimeric anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody, infliximab, has become a standard therapy for CD and it is also likely to be beneficial for UC. Several anti-TNF reagents have been developed but most of them seem to not be as efficacious as infliximab. A humanized anti-TNF monoclonal antibody, adalimumab may be useful for the treatment of patients who lost responsiveness or developed intolerance to infliximab. Antibodies against IL-12 p40 and IL-6 receptor could be alternative new anti-cytokine therapies for IBD. Anti-interferon-gamma and anti-CD25 therapies were developed, but the benefit of these agents has not yet been established. The selective blocking of migration of leukocytes into intestine seems to be a nice approach. Antibodies against alpha4 integrin and alpha4beta7 integrin showed benefit for IBD. Antisense oligonucleotide of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) may be efficacious for IBD. Clinical trials of such compounds have been either recently reported or are currently underway. In this article, we review the efficacy and safety of such novel biological therapies for IBD.

Animals↗

Lymphocyte migration through monolayers of endothelial cell lines involves VCAM-1 signaling via endothelial cell NADPH oxidase.

Lymphocytes migrate from the blood across endothelial cells to reach foreign substances sequestered in peripheral lymphoid organs and inflammatory sites. To study intracellular signaling in endothelial cells during lymphocyte migration, we used murine endothelial cell lines that promote lymphocyte migration and constitutively express VCAM-1. The maximum rate of resting splenic lymphocyte migration across monolayers of the endothelial cells occurred at 0-24 h. This migration was inhibited by anti-VCAM-1 or anti-alpha4 integrin, suggesting that VCAM-1 adhesion was required for migration. To determine whether signals within the endothelial cells were required for migration, irreversible inhibitors of signal transduction molecules were used to pretreat the endothelial cell lines. Inhibitors of NADPH oxidase activity (diphenyleneiodonium and apocynin) blocked migration >65% without affecting adhesion. Because NADPH oxidase catalyzes the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), we examined whether ROS were required for migration. Scavengers of ROS inhibited migration without affecting adhesion. Furthermore, VCAM-1 ligand binding stimulated NADPH oxidase-dependent production of ROS by the endothelial cells lines and primary endothelial cell cultures. Finally, VCAM-1 ligand binding induced an apocynin-inhibitable actin restructuring in the endothelial cell lines at the location of the lymphocyte or anti-VCAM-1-coated bead, suggesting that an NADPH oxidase-dependent endothelial cell shape change was required for lymphocyte migration. In summary, VCAM-1 signaled the activation of endothelial cell NADPH oxidase, which was required for lymphocyte migration. This suggests that endothelial cells are not only a scaffold for lymphocyte adhesion, but play an active role in promoting lymphocyte migration.

Actins↗

Alpha 4 integrin-dependent leukocyte recruitment does not require VCAM-1 in a chronic model of inflammation.

Rats immunized with Mycobacterium butyricum in Freund's adjuvant develop a chronic vasculitis, with large increases in leukocyte rolling and adhesion in mesenteric postcapillary venules that are significantly inhibited with an alpha 4 integrin Ab. Using intravital microscopy to visualize chronically inflamed microvessels, we demonstrated that alpha 4 integrin-dependent leukocyte rolling and adhesion was inhibited with a beta 1 integrin, but not a beta 7 integrin Ab. To date, VCAM-1 has been presumed to be the primary ligand for alpha 4 beta 1 integrin in the vasculature. However, alpha 4 beta 1 integrin-dependent interactions were not reduced by monoclonal or polyclonal VCAM-1 Abs or a VCAM-1 antisense oligonucleotide despite increased VCAM-1 expression in the mesenteric vasculature. To ensure that the VCAM-1 Abs were functional and used at saturating concentrations, blood from Ab-treated rats was perfused over monolayers of CHO cells transfected with rat VCAM-1. Sufficient alpha 4 integrin or VCAM-1 Ab was present to inhibit leukocyte interactions with rat VCAM-1 by 95-100%. Under in vitro flow conditions, only mononuclear leukocytes were recruited from blood of control rats onto purified VCAM-1. However, neutrophils were also recruited onto VCAM-1 from whole blood of adjuvant-immunized animals via alpha 4 integrin. Another ligand for alpha 4 beta 1 integrin is the connecting segment-1 (CS-1) region of fibronectin. An Ab to the CS-1 portion of fibronectin, which did not reduce rolling and adhesion in adjuvant arthritis animals, completely inhibited leukocyte adhesion to CS-1 under static conditions. These findings provide the first evidence that alpha 4 beta 1 integrin-dependent leukocyte rolling and adhesion can occur in vivo via a mechanism other than VCAM-1.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Maturation-dependent expression and function of the CD49d integrin on monocyte-derived human dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DC) are highly specialized APC that are critical for the initiation of T cell-dependent immune responses. DC exert a sentinel function while immature and, after activation by inflammatory stimuli or infectious agents, mature and migrate into lymphoid organs to prime T cells. We have analyzed integrin expression on monocyte-derived DC (MDDC) and found that expression of CD49d integrins (CD49d/CD29 and CD49d/beta7) was induced/up-regulated during TNF-alpha- or LPS-initiated MDDC maturation, reflecting the induction/up-regulation of CD49d and beta7 mRNA. CD49d mRNA steady-state level increased more than 10 times during maturation, with the highest levels observed 24 h after TNF-alpha treatment. CD49d integrin expression conferred mature MDDC with an elevated capacity to adhere to the CS-1 fragment of fibronectin, and also mediated transendothelial migration of mature MDDC. Up-regulation of CD49d integrin expression closely paralleled that of the mature DC marker CD83. CD49d integrin expression was dependent on cell maturation, as its induction was abrogated by N:-acetylcysteine, which inhibits NF-kappaB activation and the functional and phenotypic maturation of MDDC. Moreover, CD49d integrin up-regulation and MDDC maturation were prevented by SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, but were almost unaffected by the mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-related kinase kinase 1/2 inhibitor PD98059. Our results support the existence of a link between functional and phenotypic maturation of MDDC and CD49d integrin expression, thus establishing CD49d as a maturation marker for MDDC. The differential expression of CD49d on immature and mature MDDC might contribute to their distinct motility capabilities and mediate mature DC migration into lymphoid organs.

Acetylcysteine↗

In vivo roles of integrins during leukocyte development and traffic: insights from the analysis of mice chimeric for alpha 5, alpha v, and alpha 4 integrins.

Mice chimeric for integrins alpha(5), alpha(V), or alpha(4) were used to dissect the in vivo roles of these adhesion receptors during leukocyte development and traffic. No major defects were observed in the development of lymphocytes, monocytes, or granulocytes or in the traffic of lymphocytes to different lymphoid organs in the absence of alpha(5) or alpha(V) integrins. However, in agreement with previous reports, the absence of alpha(4) integrins produced major defects in development of lymphoid and myeloid lineages and a specific defect in homing of lymphocytes to Peyer's patches. In contrast, the alpha(4) integrin subunit is not essential for localization of T lymphocytes into intraepithelial and lamina propria compartments in the gut, whereas one of the partners of alpha(4), the beta(7) chain, has been shown to be essential. However, alpha(4)-deficient T lymphocytes cannot migrate properly during the inflammatory response induced by thioglycolate injection into the peritoneum. Finally, in vitro proliferation and activation of lymphocytes deficient for alpha(5), alpha(V), or alpha(4) integrins upon stimulation with different stimuli were similar to those seen in controls. These results show that integrins play distinct roles during in vivo leukocyte development and traffic.

Animals↗

Histamine induces CD86 expression and chemokine production by human immature dendritic cells.

Mast cells and immature dendritic cells (DC) are in close contact in peripheral tissues. Upon activation, mast cells release histamine, a mediator involved in the immediate hypersensitivity reaction. We therefore tested whether histamine could affect human DC activation and maturation. Histamine induces CD86 expression on immature DC in a dose-dependent (significant at 10(-7) M) and transient manner (maximal after 24-h stimulation). Histamine also transiently up-regulates the expression of the costimulatory and accessory molecules, CD40, CD49d, CD54, CD80, and MHC class II. As a consequence, immature DC exposed for 24 h to histamine stimulate memory T cells more efficiently than untreated DC. In addition, histamine induces a potent production of IL-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and macrophage-inflammatory protein 1alpha by immature DC and also up-regulates IL-1beta, RANTES, and macrophage-inflammatory protein 1beta but not TNF-alpha and IL-12 mRNA expression. Histamine activates immature DC through both the H1 and H2 receptors. However, histamine-treated DC do not have a phenotype of fully mature cells, as they do neither show significant changes in the expression of the chemokine receptors, CCR5, CCR7 and CXC chemokine receptor 4, nor expression of CD83 de novo. These data demonstrate that histamine activates immature DC and induces chemokine production, thereby suggesting that histamine, via stimulation of resident DC, may participate locally in T cell stimulation and in the late inflammatory reaction associated with allergic disorders.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Extrafollicular plasmablast B cells play a key role in carrying retroviral infection to peripheral organs.

B cells can either differentiate in germinal centers or in extrafollicular compartments of secondary lymphoid organs. Here we show the migration properties of B cells after differentiation in murine peripheral lymph node infected with mouse mammary tumor virus. Naive B cells become activated, infected, and carry integrated retroviral DNA sequences. After production of a retroviral superantigen, the infected B cells receive cognate T cell help and differentiate along the two main differentiation pathways analogous to classical Ag responses. The extrafollicular differentiation peaks on day 6 of mouse mammary tumor virus infection, and the follicular one becomes detectable after day 10. B cells participating in this immune response carry a retroviral DNA marker that can be detected by using semiquantitative PCR. We determined the migration patterns of B cells having taken part in the T cell-B cell interaction from the draining lymph node to different tissues. Waves of immigration and retention of infected cells in secondary lymphoid organs, mammary gland, salivary gland, skin, lung, and liver were observed correlating with the two peaks of B cell differentiation in the draining lymph node. Other organs revealed immigration of infected cells at later time points. The migration properties were correlated with a strong up-regulation of alpha(4)beta(1) integrin expression. These results show the migration properties of B cells during an immune response and demonstrate that a large proportion of extrafolliculary differentiating plasmablasts can escape local cell death and carry the retroviral infection to peripheral organs.

Animals↗

Resting murine neutrophils express functional alpha 4 integrins that signal through Src family kinases.

There is mounting evidence that alpha(4) (CD49d) integrins are involved in neutrophil recruitment and function during inflammatory responses. We report that all resting murine neutrophils derived from bone marrow or peripheral blood express easily detectable levels of alpha(4) integrins on their surface. These alpha(4) integrins were functional, as demonstrated by stimulation of respiratory burst when neutrophils adhered to surfaces coated with the murine vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (mVCAM-1). Adhesion occurred via alpha(4) integrins, as preincubation of neutrophils with an anti-alpha(4)-specific Ab inhibited attachment to mVCAM-1. Direct cross-linking of the alpha(4) integrin subunit by surface-bound mAbs also elicited superoxide release and release of the secondary granule marker, lactoferrin. The functional responses that occurred downstream of alpha(4) integrin cross-linking required signaling by Src family kinases. Neutrophils derived from hck(-/-)fgr(-/-)lyn(-/-) triple-knockout or hck(-/-)fgr(-/-) double-knockout mice failed to undergo respiratory burst when plated on mVCAM-1. Triple mutant neutrophils were also defective in release of both superoxide and lactoferrin when plated on surfaces coated with mAbs directed against alpha(4). Correlated with impaired alpha(4)-induced functional responses, triple-mutant neutrophils also failed to spread and tightly adhere to anti-alpha(4) mAb-coated surfaces. This is the first direct evidence that functional alpha(4) integrins are expressed by murine PMNs, and that these surface molecules can mediate cellular responses such as tight adhesion, spreading, sustained respiratory burst, and specific granule release in vitro. Moreover the alpha(4) integrins, like all other integrins tested, use the Src family kinases to transduce intracellular signals.

Animals↗

Overlapping roles of P-selectin and alpha 4 integrin to recruit leukocytes to the central nervous system in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is mediated by inflammatory cells recruited from the circulation to the CNS. We used intravital microscopy to investigate the mechanisms of this recruitment. No leukocyte rolling and very little adhesion was observed in healthy control mice. In contrast, both rolling and adhesion was observed in brain postcapillary venules before onset of physical symptoms of EAE. Rolling and adhesion remained elevated for 2 wk and returned to near normal levels by 5 wk postsymptom onset. Consistent with a role for P-selectin in recruitment to the CNS, P-selectin protein was detected in the brains and spinal cords of EAE mice. Expression was highest before symptom onset and decreased over the next 2 wk. The importance of alpha(4) integrin increased with time as anti-alpha(4) integrin blocked approximately 20, 50, and 60% of leukocyte rolling 2 days before disease onset, 5 days and 2 wk postonset of symptoms, respectively, and 85% of rolling 5 wk postsymptoms. Addition of anti-P-selectin to alpha(4) integrin Ab-treated mice blocked all remaining rolling at each time point. Interestingly, however, alpha(4) integrin-mediated rolling appeared to be entirely dependent on P-selectin as anti-P-selectin alone was able to completely block all leukocyte rolling. In the absence of rolling (with P-selectin Ab), a 70% reduction in adhesion was noted. A very similar reduction was seen when mice were treated with alpha(4) integrin-blocking Ab. In conclusion, we describe increased leukocyte trafficking in the brains of EAE mice with important overlapping roles for both P-selectin and alpha(4) integrin in mediating leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions.

Animals↗

Quantitative differences in chemokine receptor engagement generate diversity in integrin-dependent lymphocyte adhesion.

Chemokines control the specificity of lymphocyte homing. Numerous chemokines have been identified but the significance of redundancy in chemokine networks is unexplained. Here we investigated the biological significance of distinct chemokines binding to the same receptor. Among CCR4 ligands, skin vessels endothelial cells present C-C chemokine ligand (CCL) 17 but not CCL22 consistent with CCL17 involvement in T lymphocyte arrest on endothelial cells. However, CCL22 is much more powerful than CCL17 in the induction of rapid integrin-dependent T cell adhesion on VCAM-1 under conditions of physiological flow. The dominance of CCL22 over CCL17 extends to other CCR4-mediated phenomena such as receptor desensitization and internalization and correlates with the peculiar kinetics of CCR4 engagement by the two ligands. A similar phenomenological pattern is also shown for CXC chemokine ligand 9 and CXC chemokine ligand 11, which share binding to CXCR3. Our analysis shows how quantitative variations in chemokine receptor expression level and ligand engagement may alter the selectivity of integrin-dependent lymphocyte adhesive responses, suggesting a mechanism by which chemokine networks may either generate or break the specificity of lymphocyte subset recruitment.

Antigens, CD↗

Bovine gamma delta T cell subsets express distinct patterns of chemokine responsiveness and adhesion molecules: a mechanism for tissue-specific gamma delta T cell subset accumulation.

Subsets of gammadelta T cells localize to distinct tissue sites in the absence of exogenous Ag stimulation or development of effector/memory cells. Selective lymphocyte homing from the blood into tissues is controlled by a multistep process involving vascular and lymphocyte adhesion molecules, and G protein-linked chemokine receptors. The role of these mechanisms in the tissue tropism of gammadelta T cells is still poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that a subset of gammadelta T cells, most of which express an antigenically distinct TCR and are characterized by coexpression of CD8, selectively accumulated in tissues that expressed high levels of the mucosal vascular addressin, mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1. These cells expressed higher levels of alpha(4)beta(7) integrins than other gammadelta T cell subsets and selectively migrated to the CCR7 ligand secondary lymphoid-tissue chemokine (CCL21). Integrin activation by CCL21 selectively increased CD8(+)gammadelta T cell binding to recombinant mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1. These results suggest that the tropism of circulating CD8(+)gammadelta T cells for mucosal tissues is due, at least in part, to selective developmental expression of adhesion molecules and chemokine receptors.

Animals↗

Paxillin binding to the alpha 4 integrin subunit stimulates LFA-1 (integrin alpha L beta 2)-dependent T cell migration by augmenting the activation of focal adhesion kinase/proline-rich tyrosine kinase-2.

Engagement of very late Ag-4 (integrin alpha(4)beta(1)) by ligands such as VCAM-1 markedly stimulates leukocyte migration mediated by LFA-1 (integrin alpha(L)beta(2)). This form of integrin trans-regulation in T cells requires the binding of paxillin to the alpha(4) integrin cytoplasmic domain. This conclusion is based on the abolition of trans-regulation in Jurkat T cells by an alpha(4) mutation (alpha(4)(Y991A)) that disrupts paxillin binding. Furthermore, cellular expression of an alpha(4)-binding fragment of paxillin that blocks the alpha(4)-paxillin interaction, selectively blocked VCAM-1 stimulation of alpha(L)beta(2)-dependent cell migration. The alpha(4)-paxillin association mediates trans-regulation by enhancing the activation of tyrosine kinases, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and/or proline-rich tyrosine kinase-2 (Pyk2), based on two lines of evidence. First, disruption of the paxillin-binding site in the alpha(4) tail resulted in much less alpha(4)beta(1)-mediated phosphorylation of Pyk2 and FAK. Second, transfection with cDNAs encoding C-terminal fragments of Pyk2 and FAK, which block the function of the intact kinases, blocked alpha(4)beta(1) stimulation of alpha(L)beta(2)-dependent migration. These results define a proximal protein-protein interaction of an integrin cytoplasmic domain required for trans-regulation between integrins, and establish that augmented activation of Pyk2 and/or FAK is an immediate signaling event required for the trans-regulation of integrin alpha(L)beta(2) by alpha(4)beta(1).

Amino Acid Substitution↗

TNF-alpha-dependent ICAM-1- and VCAM-1-mediated inflammatory responses are delayed in neonatal mice infected with Pneumocystis carinii.

Neonatal mice have a delayed CD4-mediated inflammatory response to Pneumocystis carinii (PC) infection in the lungs that corresponds to a delayed TNF-alpha response and a delayed clearance of the organisms compared with adult mice. Since TNF-alpha is known to drive the up-regulation of adhesion molecules, we examined the expression and function of adhesion molecules in the lungs of neonatal mice. The expression of both ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was significantly lower in the lungs of PC-infected neonatal mice compared with adults. Additionally, migration of neonatal T cells across endothelial cells expressing VCAM-1 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 was aberrant compared with that in adult T cells, although alpha(4)beta(1) integrin-mediated adhesion of neonatal lymphocytes was comparable to that of adult lymphocytes. Treatment of neonatal mice with exogenous TNF-alpha resulted in increased expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 as well as increased expression of chemokines, resulting in infiltration of CD4(+) cells into the lungs. Treatment with exogenous TNF-alpha resulted in a trend (although not statistically significant) toward a reduction of PC organisms from the lungs. These data indicate that neonatal lung endothelial cells do not up-regulate ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in response to PC infection, probably due to depressed TNF-alpha production. Additionally, neonatal T cells are defective in the ability to migrate across endothelial cells.

Administration, Intranasal↗

CC chemokine ligands 25 and 28 play essential roles in intestinal extravasation of IgA antibody-secreting cells.

CCL25 (also known as thymus-expressed chemokine) and CCL28 (also known as mucosae-associated epithelial chemokine) play important roles in mucosal immunity by recruiting IgA Ab-secreting cells (ASCs) into mucosal lamina propria. However, their exact roles in vivo still remain to be defined. In this study, we first demonstrated in mice that IgA ASCs in small intestine expressed CCR9, CCR10, and CXCR4 on the cell surface and migrated to their respective ligands CCL25, CCL28, and CXCL12 (also known as stromal cell-derived factor 1), whereas IgA ASCs in colon mainly expressed CCR10 and CXCR4 and migrated to CCL28 and CXCL12. Reciprocally, the epithelial cells of small intestine were immunologically positive for CCL25 and CCL28, whereas those of colon were positive for CCL28 and CXCL12. Furthermore, the venular endothelial cells in small intestine were positive for CCL25 and CCL28, whereas those in colon were positive for CCL28, suggesting their direct roles in extravasation of IgA ASCs. Consistently, in mice orally immunized with cholera toxin (CT), anti-CCL25 suppressed homing of CT-specific IgA ASCs into small intestine, whereas anti-CCL28 suppressed homing of CT-specific IgA ASCs into both small intestine and colon. Reciprocally, CT-specific ASCs and IgA titers in the blood were increased in mice treated with anti-CCL25 or anti-CCL28. Anti-CXCL12 had no such effects. Finally, both CCL25 and CCL28 were capable of enhancing alpha4 integrin-dependent adhesion of IgA ASCs to mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 and VCAM-1. Collectively, CCL25 and CCL28 play essential roles in intestinal homing of IgA ASCs primarily by mediating their extravasation into intestinal lamina propria.

Animals↗

Mice lacking two or all three selectins demonstrate overlapping and distinct functions for each selectin.

Selectins support the capture and rolling of leukocytes in venules at sites of inflammation and in lymphocyte homing. Gene-targeted mice with null mutations at the L-, E-, or P-selectin locus develop normally and show mild (E-/-) to moderate (P-/-, L-/-) defects in inflammatory cell recruitment. Mice lacking both P- and E-selectin (E/P-/-) have severe neutrophilia and spontaneous skin infections that limit their life span. Other combinations of selectin deficiency have not been investigated. We have generated novel mice lacking L- and P-selectin (L/P-/-), L- and E-selectin (L/E-/-), or all three selectins (E/L/P-/-) by bone marrow transplantation. L/P-/- mice (only E-selectin present) show an absence of leukocyte rolling after trauma and severely reduced rolling (by approximately 90%) in inflammation induced by TNF-alpha. Residual rolling in L/P-/- mice was very slow (3.6 +/- 0.2 micrometers/s after TNF-alpha). L/E-/- mice (only P-selectin present) showed rolling similar to that of L-/- at increased velocities (15.1 +/- 0.3 micrometer/s). The number of adherent leukocytes after 2 or 6 h of TNF-alpha treatment was not significantly reduced in L/E-/- or L/P-/- mice. E/L/P-/- mice showed very little rolling after TNF-alpha, all of which was blocked by mAb to alpha4 integrin. Adherent and emigrated neutrophils were significantly reduced at 6 h after TNF-alpha. We conclude that any one of the selectins can support some neutrophil recruitment but eliminating all three selectins significantly impairs neutrophil recruitment.

Animals↗

The leukocyte integrin alpha D beta 2 binds VCAM-1: evidence for a binding interface between I domain and VCAM-1.

The trafficking of leukocytes through tissues is supported by an interaction between the beta 2 (CD18) integrins CD11a/CD18 (LFA-1) and CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1) and their ligand ICAM-1. The most recently identified and fourth member of the beta 2 integrins, alpha D beta 2, selectively binds ICAM-3 and does not appear to bind ICAM-1. We have reported recently that alpha D beta 2 can support eosinophil adhesion to VCAM-1. Here we demonstrate that expression of alpha D beta 2 in a lymphoid cell that does not express alpha 4 integrins confers efficient binding to VCAM-1. In addition, a soluble form of alpha D beta 2 binds VCAM-1 with greater efficiency relative to ICAM-3. The I domain of alpha D contains a binding site for VCAM-1 since recombinant alpha D I domain binds specifically to VCAM-1. In addition, alpha D mAb that block cellular binding to VCAM-1 bind the alpha D I domain. Using VCAM-1 mutants we have determined that the binding site on VCAM-1 for alpha D beta 2 overlaps with that of alpha 4++ integrins. Substitution of VCAM-1 aspartate at position 40, D40, within the conserved integrin binding site, diminishes binding to alpha D beta 2 and abrogates binding to the alpha D I domain. The corresponding integrin binding site residue in ICAM-3 is also essential to alpha D beta 2 binding. Finally, we demonstrate that alpha D beta 2 can support lymphoid cell adhesion to VCAM-1 under flow conditions at levels equivalent to those mediated by alpha 4 beta 1. These results indicate that VCAM-1 can bind to an I domain and that the binding of alpha D beta 2 to VCAM-1 may contribute to the trafficking of a subpopulation of leukocytes that express alpha D beta 2.

Animals↗