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A quantitative immunohistochemical study of the expression of integrins by nerves in psoriatic and normal skin.

Qualitative and quantitative assessment of integrin expression by dermal nerves was made by an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method on snap-frozen biopsies from affected psoriatic skin, and skin from normal control subjects with no history of skin disease. Nerves expressed alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 6, beta 1 and beta 4 integrin subunits, and perineural sheaths in the mid-dermis also expressed these subunits, with the exception of alpha 2. There were more upper dermal nerve segments expressing alpha 1 integrin compared with other integrins both in controls and in psoriatic skin. The greater number of nerves expressing alpha 1 integrin compared with other integrins may be due to anatomical or functional differences between groups of nerves. There were significantly more nerves expressing alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 6 and beta 4 integrins in psoriatic skin compared with control skin. This generalized increase may indicate a secondary trophic effect on all nerves rather than a specific increase in one type of nerve. However, the expression of alpha 2 integrin may be significant in the pathogenesis of the psoriatic plaque, in that it was barely detectable in the normal site-matched biopsies, but much greater in psoriatic plaques. The study of the expression of adhesion molecules by neurones in psoriasis offers a new avenue for investigation of the role of neuronal hypertrophy in the initiation and maintenance of psoriatic plaques.

Adult↗

Integrin receptor specificity for human red cell ICAM-4 ligand. Critical residues for alphaIIbeta3 binding.

The red cell intercellular adhesion molecule-4 (ICAM-4) binds to different members of the integrin receptor families. To better define the ICAM-4 integrin receptor specificity, cell transfectants individually expressing various integrins were used to demonstrate that alphaLbeta2, alphaMbeta2, and alphaIIbbeta3 (activated) bind specifically and dose dependently to the recombinant ICAM-4-Fc protein. We also show that cell surface ICAM-4 interacts with the cell surface alphaVbeta3 integrin. In addition, using a alpha4beta1 cell transfectant and beta2 integrin-deficient LAD cells, we show here that ICAM-4 failed to interact with alpha4beta1 even after alpha4beta1 activation by phorbol ester or with the monoclonal antibody TS2/16 (+ Mn2+). ICAM-4 amino acids that are critical for alphaIIbbeta3 and alphaVbeta3 interaction were identified by domain deletion analysis, site-directed mutagenesis and synthetic peptide inhibition. Our results provide evidence that the beta3 integrin binding sites encompass the first and second Ig-like domains of ICAM-4. However, while the alphaIIbbeta3 contact site comprises the ABED face of domain D1 with an extension in the C'-E loop of domain D2, the alphaVbeta3 contact site comprises residues on both faces of D1 and in the C'-E loop of D2. These data, together with our previous results, demonstrate that different integrins bind to different but partly overlapping sites on ICAM-4, and that ICAM-4 may accommodate multiple integrin receptors present on leukocytes, platelets and endothelial cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Disintegration of human spermatozoal membranes in seminal plasma decreases the binding capacity of integrins.

The in vitro binding capacity of spermatozoal integrins to matrix components after disintegration of sperm membranes was evaluated. The percentage of spermatozoa with functionally-relevant integrins was determined before and after devitalization of spermatozoa, which were resuspended in seminal plasma or in culture medium. The devitalization was performed by cryoshock or by incubation of spermatozoa with triton X-100 in a concentration ranging from 0.01 to 1.0%. The spermatozoal integrins were detected by the binding of anti-integrin antibodies and flow cytometry and the functional activity was monitored by the binding of the spermatozoa to the matrix components in a cell attachment assay. The seminal plasma decreased the binding of anti-integrin antibodies to the spermatozoal surface and the binding of spermatozoa to ligands and matrix components. respectively. In contrast, the expression of fibronectin and laminin on spermatozoa was increased. Not all spermatozoa, which expressed integrins on their surface bound to the ligands in the cell attachment assay. These results suggest that the detectable integrins only partially exert functional relevance. It can be concluded that the spermatozoa with fragile plasma membranes are more prone to functional inactivation of their integrins by the seminal plasma.

Cell Adhesion↗

Lack of intrinsic polarity in the ligand-binding ability of keratinocyte beta1 integrins.

Within the basal layer of the epidermis the beta1 integrins have a pericellular distribution. Two monoclonal antibodies, 15/7 and 12G10, that detect a conformation of the beta1 integrin subunit that is induced following cation or ligand occupancy selectively recognized beta1 integrins at the basement membrane zone in vivo and in focal adhesions of cultured keratinocytes; they did not recognize integrins on the apical and upper lateral membranes of basal keratinocytes nor integrins on the suprabasal keratinocytes of hyperproliferative epidermis. Inhibition of intercellular adhesion did not induce the 15/7 epitope on the lateral and apical membrane domains. The surface distribution of the epitopes was consistent with the antibodies acting as reporters of ligand-binding; in addition, the 15/7 epitope was exposed on unglycosylated, immature beta1 integrins. Although the apical membrane of basal keratinocytes is not normally in contact with extracellular matrix proteins, we found that it was capable of binding fibronectin-coated beads and that the 15/7 epitope was exposed on plasma membrane in contact with the beads. When a chimeric molecule consisting of the extracellular domain of CD8 and the cytoplasmic domain of the beta1 integrin subunit, used to mimic a constitutively active beta1 heterodimer, was introduced into keratinocytes it localized to the basal, lateral and apical membrane domains. We conclude that although the conformation of the keratinocyte beta1 integrins differs between the basal and the lateral/apical membrane domains there is no intrinsic polarity in the ligand binding potential of the receptors.

Binding Sites↗

Differential localization of laminin gamma and integrin beta in primary cultures of the rat gingival epithelium.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the differential immunolocalization of laminin gamma(2) and integrin beta(4) in primary cultures of the rat gingival epithelium. METHODS: The gingival epithelium was obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats and was cultured in serum-free keratinocyte growth medium (DK-SFM). Western blotting analysis, immunofluorescence, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and immuno-gold labeling for laminin gamma(2) and integrin beta(4) were employed. CLSM images for laminin and integrin were analyzed in horizontal (x-y axis) and in vertical (x-z axis) sections. RESULTS: Both laminin gamma(2) and integrin beta(4) were detected by Western blot analysis in the gingival epithelium. Immunolocalization of laminin gamma(2) was distinct in the cytoplasm to form one or two irregular rings in gingival epithelial cells. By contrast, integrin beta(4) was localized diffusely in the cytoplasm. F-actin (indicating actin filaments) was clearly discernible at the periphery of the cytoplasm to form a cellular fringe. In x-z axis images obtained by CLSM, laminin gamma(2) was recognized as large foci in the most inner portion just above the basal plasma membrane. Integrin beta(4) existed in the area where F-actin was labeled surrounding the membrane. Immuno-electron microscopy showed that 10nm colloidal gold particles indicating laminin gamma(2) were mainly localized at the extracellular portion and in the peripheral cytoplasm, whereas integrin beta(4) was distributed in the cytoplasm close to the basal plasma membrane but not in extracellular regions. CONCLUSIONS: In primary cultures of the rat gingival epithelium, both laminin gamma(2) and integrin beta(4) may be produced by the epithelium, and irregular rings of laminin gamma(2) are formed in areas where gingival cells adhere to the extracellular matrix.

Actins↗

Integrins: role in cell adhesion and communication.

Adhesive interactions are crucial for the integrity and function of all cells and tissues. As one of the major families of cell adhesion receptors, the integrins have been the focus of scientific interest for more than a decade. The resulting studies have tremendously enhanced the understanding of integrin-mediated adhesive interactions and have unveiled novel integrin functions in the cytoskeletal organization of microfilaments and in the activation of diverse signaling pathways. These functions are critically involved in the regulation of multiple processes, such as tissue development, inflammation, tumor cell growth and metastasis, and programmed cell death. The global view of integrin receptor biology has radically changed and has become much more subtle and elaborate. The enormous complexity of integrin function is determined by the heterodimeric formation of more than 20 functional integrin receptors, the cell type-specific distribution, the receptor activation state, the presence of different activation and deactivation signals, and the subsequent employment of distinct cytoskeletal and signaling complexes within a more dimensional network of time and space. This article summarizes the structural and functional properties of the integrin receptors and emphasizes some of the major achievements made in the past to enhance the understanding of integrin biology.

Animals↗

Integrins and matrix molecules in salivary gland cell adhesion, signaling, and gene expression.

Integrins play crucial roles in embryonic and adult cell adhesion, migration, morphogenesis, growth, and differentiation in many cell systems, including human salivary gland cells. Integrins function by binding through their extracellular domain to a specific peptide recognition site in a ligand, and then transmitting information to the cytoplasm by way of their cytoplasmic tails. By this transmembrane signaling process, integrins can mediate assembly of adhesion sites and organization of the actin-containing cytoskeleton by forming supermolecular complexes of cytoskeletal and signaling molecules. The specific steps in the assembly of these complexes as well as novel mechanisms for synergy between integrin and growth factor signaling pathways are still being determined. integrin-mediated interactions also have major effects on gene expression. For example, integrin-mediated adhesion to fibronectin by the HSG salivary gland cell line significantly alters the pattern of proteins synthesized and genes expressed. In fact, at least five transcription factors are activated, and over 30 genes (many of them novel) are found to be induced by such integrin-mediated interactions by salivary gland cells. The roles of integrins, in collaborative interactions with growth factors and signaling pathways, and in the induction of novel genes during salivary gland development, should provide fruitful areas of research for many years.

Animals↗

Kinetic model for integrin-mediated adhesion release during cell migration.

Under many circumstances, cell migration speed is limited by the rate of cell-substratum detachment at the cell rear. We have constructed a mathematical model to integrate how the biophysical and biochemical interactions between integrins, the cytoskeleton, and the matrix affect rear retraction and linkage dissociation mechanisms. Our model also examines how applied forces and integrin clustering affect retraction kinetics. The model predicts two distinct detachment phenotypes. In the first, detachment is extremely rapid, dominated by integrin extracellular-matrix dissociation, and it occurs at high forces or low adhesiveness. In the second, detachment is much slower, dominated by integrin-cytoskeleton dissociation, and it occurs at low forces or high adhesiveness. The amount of integrin extracted from the rear of the cell is an assay for the detachment phenotype. During rapid detachment cells leave little integrin on the substratum whereas during slow detachment a large fraction of integrin rips from the membrane. This model delineates parameters which can be exploited to regulate cell speed in each detachment regime. The model also offers an explanation as to why some cell types, such as leukocytes or keratocytes, are able to detach easily and move very quickly while other cell types, such as fibroblasts, tend to migrate more slowly and release many more integrins during detachment.

Binding Sites↗

Integrin engagement increases histone H3 acetylation and reduces histone H1 association with DNA in murine lung endothelial cells.

Engagement of integrin cell adhesion receptors in mouse lung endothelial cells induces global sensitivity of DNA to nuclease digestion, reflecting alterations in chromatin structure. These structural changes may contribute to the antigenotoxic effects of integrin engagement in lung endothelium. Because histone acetylation and poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation modulate chromatin structure, we investigated the effects of beta1 integrin engagement with antibody on these post-translational modifications and the presence of histones at discrete DNA sequences in the mouse lung endothelial cell genome using chromatin immunoprecipitation. Integrin engagement increased acetylation of core histone H3. The presence of acetylated histone H3 at intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) promoters, and a nonpromoter sequence was also increased. As with integrin engagement, the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A caused global hypersensitivity of DNA to nuclease digestion and induced acetylation of histone H3 and its coimmunoprecipitation with VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 promoters and nonpromoter DNA. In contrast to acetyl-histone H3, the association of linker histone H1 with specific DNA sequences was either reduced or unaffected by integrin engagement and trichostatin A. Although integrin engagement and trichostatin A treatment did not affect histone H1 poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation, deletion of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 increased core histone H3 acetylation and increased its level at the iNOS promoter while decreasing the amount of histone H1. The results suggest that integrin engagement, as well as trichostatin A and PARP-1 deletion, regulate chromatin structure via core histone H3 acetylation and reduced linker histone H1-DNA association.

Acetylation↗

Regulation of bleomycin-induced DNA breakage and chromatin structure in lung endothelial cells by integrins and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase.

Activation of endothelial cell integrins inhibits DNA breakage by diverse agents, including the DNA-damaging agent bleomycin. DNA breaks activate nuclear poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), which regulates chromatin structure and DNA repair. We determined the role of PARP in suppression of bleomycin genotoxicity by integrins using wild-type and PARP knockout mouse lung endothelial cells (MLEC), and the PARP inhibitor, 3-aminobenzamide (3AB). Activation of beta1 integrins by antibody clustering enhanced the sensitivity of wild-type nuclei to digestion with micrococcal nuclease and deoxyribonuclease I, indicating that chromatin structure was altered. 3AB blocked this effect. Knockout and 3AB-treated wild-type MLEC were hypersensitive to deoxyribonuclease I compared with wild-type cells, demonstrating that PARP regulates chromatin structure. Integrin clustering reduced the hypersensitivity of knockout cells, suggesting additional, PARP-independent mechanisms that inhibit nuclease interaction with chromatin. Bleomycin caused DNA breakage in wild-type and knockout MLEC. Breaks were eliminated after 60 min incubation of wild-type cells in drug-free medium, whereas 3AB or PARP knockout inhibited DNA repair. Integrin clustering protected wild-type cells from DNA breakage, and 3AB and PARP knockout inhibited this protection. Bleomycin caused large increases in PARP activity in wild-type but not knockout MLEC, and integrin clustering inhibited the activation of PARP. The results indicate that the antigenotoxic effects of integrin activation require PARP and that integrins alter chromatin structure by PARP-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

Animals↗

Unmasking of intestinal epithelial lateral membrane beta1 integrin consequent to transepithelial neutrophil migration in vitro facilitates inv-mediated invasion by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.

Idiopathic intestinal disease states characterized by active inflammation associated with transepithelial migration of neutrophils may, paradoxically, be associated with an increased risk of infection by enteric pathogens. Although the specific ligands with which various intestinal pathogens associate remain largely unknown, it is thought that many reside on the basolateral membrane. For example, beta1 integrin, a basolateral membrane protein, mediates the specific interaction between epithelial cells and the inv gene product (invasin) on the surface of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Our observations indicate that neutrophil migration across model T84 cell intestinal epithelia produced transient separation of epithelial cells at sites of neutrophil migration, resulting in microdiscontinuities that remained unsealed for several hours. We hypothesized that such sites of microdiscontinuities would yield a potential route for luminal pathogens to gain access to basolateral ligands and, thus, provide a window of risk for enteric infection. The surface biotinylation and fluorescence localization studies reported here revealed that, as in natural intestinal epithelia, beta1 integrin was strictly polarized to the basolateral membrane in confluent T84 monolayers. However, the transient microdiscontinuities resulting from neutrophil migration permitted access to beta1 integrin from the apical reservoir. Coincident with such basolateral exposure of beta1 integrin, monolayers became susceptible to invasion by Y. pseudotuberculosis. Fluorescence localization indicated that Y. pseudotuberculosis selectively associated with monolayers at sites where small discontinuities resulting from neutrophil transmigration were found. An increased risk for Y. pseudotuberculosis infection was specifically related to exposure of beta1 integrin (normally concealed by tight junctions) to the apical compartment, as Y. pseudotuberculosis cells lacking the inv gene were unable to invade following neutrophil transepithelial migration. Following closure of the microdiscontinuities associated with neutrophil migration, a small pool of beta1 integrin remained apically localized, presumably due to incomplete repolarization. However, this small apical pool of beta1 integrin was insufficient to support a detectable increased risk of Yersinia infection. Together, these observations indicate that by transiently perturbing monolayer continuity, neutrophil transepithelial migration is associated with a window of risk in which luminal pathogens can access basolateral ligands such as beta1 integrin.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Reducing the native tropism of adenovirus vectors requires removal of both CAR and integrin interactions.

The development of tissue-selective virus-based vectors requires a better understanding of the role of receptors in gene transfer in vivo, both to rid the vectors of their native tropism and to introduce new specificity. CAR and alphav integrins have been identified as the primary cell surface components that interact with adenovirus type 5 (Ad5)-based vectors during in vitro transduction. We have constructed a set of four vectors, which individually retain the wild-type cell interactions, lack CAR binding, lack alphav integrin binding, or lack both CAR and alphav integrin binding. These vectors have been used to examine the roles of CAR and alphav integrin in determining the tropism of Ad vectors in a mouse model following intrajugular or intramuscular injection. CAR was found to play a significant role in liver transduction. The absence of CAR binding alone, however, had little effect on the low level of expression from Ad in other tissues. Binding of alphav integrins appeared to have more influence than did binding of CAR in promoting the expression in these tissues and was also found to be important in liver transduction by Ad vectors. An effect of the penton base modification was a reduction in the number of vector genomes that could be detected in several tissues. In the liver, where CAR binding is important, combining defects in CAR and alphav integrin binding was essential to effectively reduce the high level of expression from Ad vectors. While there may be differences in Ad vector tropism among species, our results indicate that both CAR and alphav integrins can impact vector distribution in vivo. Disruption of both CAR and alphav integrin interactions may be critical for effectively reducing native tropism and enhancing the efficacy of specific targeting ligands in redirecting Ad vectors to target tissues.

ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activitie↗

Proteolytic disruption of laminin-integrin complexes on muscle cells during synapse formation.

To explore whether a neural modulation of muscle integrins' extracellular ligand interactions contributes to synapse induction, we compared the distributions of beta1-integrins and basal lamina proteins on Xenopus myotomal myocytes developing in culture. beta1-Integrins formed numerous organized aggregates scattered over the entire muscle surface, with particularly dense accumulations at specialized sites resembling myotendinous and neuromuscular junctions. Integrin aggregates on muscle cells differed from those on surrounding fibroblasts and epithelial cells, both in their lack of response to cross-linking by multivalent ligands and in their consistent association with the cells' own extracellular matrices. Muscle integrin clusters were usually associated with congruent basal lamina accumulations containing laminin and a heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), sometimes including fibronectin and vitronectin acquired from the surrounding medium. Immediately prior to synaptic differentiation, any existing laminin and HSPG accumulations along the path of cell contact were eliminated, disrupting otherwise stable laminin-integrin complexes. This apparently proteolytic modulation of integrins' extracellular ligand interactions was soon followed by the accumulation of new congruent accumulations of laminin and HSPG in the developing synaptic basal lamina. Combining these results with earlier findings, we consider the possibility that postsynaptic differentiation is induced, at least in part, by the proteolytic disruption of integrin-ligand complexes at sites of nerve-muscle contact.

Animals↗

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is required for integrin-stimulated AKT and Raf-1/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation.

Cell attachment to fibronectin stimulates the integrin-dependent interaction of p85-associated phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase with integrin-dependent focal adhesion kinase (FAK) as well as activation of the Ras/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. However, it is not known if this PI 3-kinase-FAK interaction increases the synthesis of the 3-phosphorylated phosphoinositides (3-PPIs) or what role, if any, is played by activated PI 3-kinase in integrin signaling. We demonstrate here the integrin-dependent accumulation of the PI 3-kinase products, PI 3,4-bisphosphate [PI(3,4)P2] and PI(3,4,5)P3, as well as activation of AKT kinase, a serine/threonine kinase that can be stimulated by binding of PI(3,4)P2. The PI 3-kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 significantly decreased the integrin-induced accumulation of the 3-PPIs and activation of AKT kinase, without having significant effects on the levels of PI(4,5)P2 or tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin. These inhibitors also reduced cell adhesion/spreading onto fibronectin but had no effect on attachment to polylysine. Interestingly, integrin-mediated Erk-2, Mek-1, and Raf-1 activation, but not Ras-GTP loading, was inhibited at least 80% by wortmannin and LY294002. In support of the pharmacologic results, fibronectin activation of Erk-2 and AKT kinases was completely inhibited by overexpression of a dominant interfering p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase. We conclude that integrin-mediated adhesion to fibronectin results in the accumulation of the PI 3-kinase products PI(3,4)P2 and PI(3,4,5)P3 as well as the PI 3-kinase-dependent activation of the kinases Raf-1, Mek-1, Erk-2, and AKT and that PI 3-kinase may function upstream of Raf-1 but downstream of Ras in integrin activation of Erk-2 MAP and AKT kinases.

Androstadienes↗

Altered glycosylation of integrin adhesion molecules in colorectal cancer cells and decreased adhesion to the extracellular matrix.

The integrin mediated interactions between tumour cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix are thought to play crucial parts in the complex process of invasion and metastasis. It has been previously shown that the expression of integrins is differently diminished in a chain-specific manner in human colorectal cancer. To further characterise the integrins still expressed in colorectal carcinomas, immunoblots with monoclonal antibodies against the beta 1 integrin subunit have been performed. In isolated cell membranes of colorectal cancers a second smaller beta 1 chain (105 kD non-reduced) was found as well as the mature beta 1 chain (116 kD non-reduced) present in normal mucosa of the colon. This smaller beta 1 chain comigrates with the diminished glycosylated precursor form of the beta 1 chain. The role of N-glycosylation for the function and expression of integrins in vitro was therefore investigated, with deoxymannojirimycin (DMJ) and deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) as specific inhibitors of N-glycan processing. Pretreatment of human colon adenocarcinoma derived HT-29 cells with DMJ resulted in an expression of the 105 kD beta 1 precursor chain and of smaller forms of the alpha 1, alpha 3, alpha 6, and alpha v integrin subunits in a time and dose dependent manner. HT-29 cells treated with DMJ adhered poorly to laminin (8% of untreated controls), collagen type IV (40%), and fibronectin (35%). Pretreatment of the cells with DNJ did not alter the molecular weight of the integrin chains expressed and reduced HT-29 adhesion to laminin and fibronectin only to 68% and 49% respectively. Adhesion to collagen type IV was increased to 124% by DNJ. These results show that N-glycan processing is essential for the function and expression of integrins in human colorectal cancer cells. An altered glycosylation of these adhesion receptors may contribute to a more invasive or metastatic phenotype in colorectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Interplay between integrins and FLK-1 in shear stress-induced signaling.

Blood flow can modulate vascular cell functions. We studied interactions between integrins and Flk-1 in transducing the mechanical shear stress due to flow. This application of a step shear stress caused Flk-1. Casitas B-lineage lymphoma (Cbl) activation (Flk-1. Cbl association, tyrosine phosphorylation of the Cbl-bound Flk-1, and tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl) in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). The activation of integrins by plating BAECs on vitronectin or fibronectin also induced this Flk-1. Cbl activation. The shear-induced Flk-1. Cbl activation was blocked by inhibitory antibodies for alphavbeta3- or beta1-integrin, suggesting that it is mediated by integrins. Inhibition of Flk-1 by SU1498 also abolished this shear-induced Flk-1. Cbl activation. In contrast to the requirement of integrins for Flk-1. Cbl activation, the Flk-1 blocker SU1498 had no detectable effect on the shear-induced integrin activation, suggesting that integrins and Flk-1 play sequential roles in the signal transduction hierarchy induced by shear stress. Integrins are essential for the mechanical activation of Flk-1 by shear stress but not for the chemical activation of Flk-1 by VEGF.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Alphavbeta3-integrin antagonists inhibit thrombin-induced proliferation and focal adhesion formation in smooth muscle cells.

Alphavbeta3-integrin antagonists reduced neointimal formation following vascular injury in eight different animal models. Because alpha-thrombin contributes to neointimal formation, we examined the hypothesis that alphavbeta3-integrins influence alpha-thrombin-induced signaling. Cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMC) expressed alphavbeta3-integrins as demonstrated by immunofluorescence microscopy and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. Proliferative responses to alpha-thrombin were partially inhibited by anti-beta3-integrin monoclonal antibody F11 and by cyclic RGD peptides. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that alpha-thrombin stimulated a rapid increase in the formation of focal adhesions as identified by vinculin staining and that this effect was partially inhibited by alphavbeta3 antagonists. Beta3-integrin staining was diffuse in quiescent RASMC and did not concentrate at sites of focal adhesions following thrombin treatment. Alpha-thrombin elicited a time-dependent increase in activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase-1 (JNK1) and in tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Alphavbeta3-integrin antagonists partially inhibited increases in JNK1 activity but had no effect on FAK phosphorylation. In SMC isolated from beta3-integrin-deficient mice, focal adhesion formation was impaired in response to thrombin but not sphingosine-1-phosphate, a potent activator of Rho. In summary, alphavbeta3-integrins play an important role in alpha-thrombin-induced proliferation and focal adhesion formation in RASMC.

Animals↗

Extracellular matrix-stimulated phospholipase activation is mediated by beta 1-integrin.

beta 1-Integrins are major mediators of interactions between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). Adhesion of rat glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) to collagen stimulated phospholipase C. As a result, 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) was increased, and inositol phospholipids were decreased in collagen-adherent cells, as compared with GEC adherent to plastic substrata. Adhesion to collagen also stimulated production of free arachidonic acid (the precursor for eicosanoids) due to metabolism of DAG through the DAG lipase pathway and due to phospholipase A2-induced hydrolysis of phospholipids. Phospholipase A2 appeared to be stimulated as a result of protein kinase C (PKC) activation, probably secondary to increased DAG. The collagen-induced increases in DAG and free arachidonic acid, as well as the decrease in inositol phospholipids, were partially inhibited by lowering extracellular Ca2+ concentration to 200 nM or less and by anti-beta 1-integrin antibody Fab. In contrast, anti-beta 1-integrin immunoglobulin G (IgG) enhanced collagen-mediated increases in DAG and arachidonic acid. Proliferation of GEC adherent to collagen was reduced in the presence of anti-beta 1-integrin IgG. The antiproliferative effect of anti-beta 1-IgG appeared to be mediated through PKC, since it was absent in PKC-depleted GEC. Immunoprecipitation with integrin subunit-specific antibodies demonstrated alpha 2 beta 1- and alpha 3 beta 1-integrins in GEC. Thus, in GEC, ECM induces activation of phospholipases C and A2, which is mediated, at least in part, by beta 1-integrins. Products of integrin-mediated phospholipase activation may modulate GEC proliferation.

Animals↗