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Transforming growth factor beta upregulates the integrin-mediated adhesion of human prostatic carcinoma cells to type I collagen.

Prostate cancer frequently metastasizes to bone, and we propose that this process may be facilitated by the adhesion of metastatic cells to bone-derived type I collagen. We examined collagen receptor function and regulation in osteotropic PC-3 human prostatic carcinoma cells. PC-3 cell adhesion to immobilized human type I collagen was promoted by Mn2+ and Mg2+ ions and was RGD-independent. Antibodies directed against beta1 or alpha2 integrin subunits inhibited adhesion to collagen by 90% and 53%, respectively, suggesting involvement of the alpha2 beta1 receptor. Anti-alpha1 or anti-alpha3 antibodies had no effect on adhesion. Flow cytometry and immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine-labeled cells demonstrated that alpha2 beta1 was the major collagen receptor expressed by PC-3 cells. The pretreatment of PC-3 cells with transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), a major bone-derived growth factor, caused a rapid (2 h) 2-fold increase in the de novo synthesis of alpha2 and beta1 integrin subunits, and also increased by 2- to 3-fold the adhesion and spreading of PC-3 cells on collagen. We conclude that alpha2 beta1 is the major collagen receptor employed by PC-3 cells, and that alpha2 beta1 upregulation by TGF-beta is associated with an increased adhesion and spreading on collagen. The data suggest that exposure of metastatic PC-3 cells to the high levels of TGF-beta in bone may promote their ability to adhere to bone-derived collagen, which may thereby facilitate the localization of metastatic cells in the skeleton.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Semiquantitative PCR of alpha2 and alpha4 integrin mRNA shows differential response to the transcriptional modulators TGF-beta1 and TPA.

The differential expression of VLA integrins in different cell types under different conditions has been mainly studied at the protein level. Since these cell surface proteins have a rather slow turn-over, quantitative changes in their transcription may go unnoticed. The expression of alpha2 and alpha4 mRNA was studied by relative quantitative RT-PCR on Molt-4 (human T-cell lymphoma) and A875 (human melanoma) cells. Modulation of the expression was investigated by treatment with TGF-beta1 and TPA. Stimulation with TGF-beta1 increased the expression of alpha4 in Molt-4 cells and of alpha2 in A875 cells. Treatment with TPA did not alter the expression of alpha4 mRNA on Molt-4 cells but significantly increased their alpha2 expression. Thus, integrin expression can be modulated differentially and this modulation can be reinforced by transcriptional activators.

Antigens, CD↗

Glomerular and renal vascular structural changes in alpha8 integrin-deficient mice.

Integrins are matrix receptors that regulate cell-matrix interactions during development and in adult tissue. In the adult kidney, the alpha8 chain is specifically expressed in glomerular mesangial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. alpha8-deficient (alpha8-/-) mice demonstrate reductions in renal mass, which can range from complete renal agenesis to the development of kidneys that are only slightly smaller than wild-type kidneys. No histologic abnormalities of these kidneys have been described. However, considering the prominent expression of alpha8 in glomeruli and renal vessels, it seemed unlikely that the kidneys of alpha8-/- mice would be completely normal. Therefore, the renal phenotype of adult alpha8-/- mice was investigated, for assessment of more subtle morphologic alterations in kidney tissue. alpha8-/- mice displayed a significant reduction in nephron number and an increase in glomerular volume, compared with wild-type control animals. Albuminuria was not different in wild-type and alpha8-/- mice. Quantitative morphologic analyses revealed that the glomeruli of alpha8-/- mice were hypercellular, with an increased number of mesangial cells, compared with wild-type mice. Mesangial matrix deposition (as demonstrated for collagen IV and the alpha8 ligand fibronectin) was expanded in alpha8-/- mice, compared with wild-type mice. Collagens I and III, which are not normally present in glomeruli, were detected in the glomeruli of alpha8-/- mice. Staining for other glomerular integrins demonstrated an increased abundance of the collagen receptor alpha2 integrin in alpha8-/- mice. The glomerular capillary length density was significantly greater in alpha8-/- mice than in wild-type mice. Cortical arterial vessel walls were not altered in alpha8-/- mice, but the capillaries of the peritubular network were widened. Despite the strong mesangial and vascular expression of alpha8, glomerular and renal vascular alterations in alpha8-/- mice were relatively mild. Only aged alpha8-/- mice demonstrated increased glomerular capillary widening, compared with control animals. The results suggest that the lack of alpha8 can be largely compensated for, at least in younger alpha8-/- mice. It is not yet clear whether the occurrence of collagens that are not normally present in glomeruli and the increased abundance of the collagen receptor alpha2 contribute to maintaining the glomerular structure in alpha8-/- mice. The compensatory mechanisms involved will be the subject of future research.

Animals↗

Fibronectin matrix assembly regulates alpha5beta1-mediated cell cohesion.

Integrin-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions in two-dimensional (2D) culture systems are widely studied (Goldstein and DiMilla, 2002. J Biomed. Mater. Res. 59, 665-675; Koo et al., 2002. J. Cell Sci. 115, 1423-1433). Less understood is the role of the ECM in promoting intercellular cohesion in three-dimensional (3D) environments. We have demonstrated that the alpha5beta1-integrin mediates strong intercellular cohesion of 3D cellular aggregates (Robinson et al., 2003. J. Cell Sci. 116, 377-386). To further investigate the mechanism of alpha5beta1-mediated cohesivity, we used a series of chimeric alpha5beta1-integrin-expressing cells cultured as multilayer cellular aggregates. In these cell lines, the alpha5 subunit cytoplasmic domain distal to the GFFKR sequence was truncated, replaced with that of the integrin alpha4, the integrin alpha2, or maintained intact. Using these cells, alpha5beta1-integrin-mediated cell aggregation, compaction and cohesion were determined and correlated with FN matrix assembly. The data presented demonstrate that cells cultured in the absence of external mechanical support can assemble a FN matrix that promotes integrin-mediated aggregate compaction and cohesion. Further, inhibition of FN matrix assembly blocks the intercellular associations required for compaction, resulting in cell dispersal. These results demonstrate that FN matrix assembly contributes significantly to tissue cohesion and represents an alternative mechanism for regulating tissue architecture.

Animals↗

Cyclic strain stimulates proliferative capacity, alpha2 and alpha5 integrin, gene marker expression by human articular chondrocytes propagated on flexible silicone membranes.

Chondrocytes comprise less than 10% of cartilage tissue but are responsible for sensing and responding to mechanical stimuli imposed on the joint. However, the effect of mechanical signals at the cellular level is not yet fully defined. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that mechanical stimulation in the form of cyclic strain modulates proliferative capacity and integrin expression of chondrocytes from osteoarthritic knee joints. Chondrocytes isolated from articular cartilage during total knee arthroplasty were propagated on flexible silicone membranes. The cells were subjected to cyclic strain for 24 h using a computer-controlled vacuum device, with replicate samples maintained under static conditions. Our results demonstrated increase in proliferative capacity of the cells subjected to cyclic strain compared with cells maintained under static conditions. The flexed cells also exhibited upregulation of the chondrocytic gene markers type II collagen and aggrecan. In addition, cyclic strain resulted in increased expression of the alpha2 and alpha5 integrin subunits, as well as an increased expression of vimentin. There was also intracellular reconfiguration of the enzyme protein kinase C. Our findings suggest that these molecules may play a role in the signal transduction pathway, eliciting cellular response to mechanical stimulation.

Aged↗

Differential regulation of soluble guanylyl cyclase expression and signaling by collagens: involvement of integrin-linked kinase.

Glomerular diseases are characterized by an abnormal synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen type I. Evidence that growth on collagen type I downregulates soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) expression and the responsiveness of human mesangial cells to nitric oxide (NO) by activating specific integrin signals involving integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is presented. Human mesangial cells were grown on collagen type I or IV for 24 to 72 h. Compared with collagen IV, growth on collagen I reduced the protein expression and NO-stimulated enzyme activity of sGC. This downregulation was effected at the level of transcription, because steady-state sGC mRNA expression was reduced on collagen I, but inhibition of transcription with Actinomycin D revealed no differences in transcript stability between the two culture conditions. Collagen I also reduced the capacity of cells to relax in response to NO after H2O2 challenge and inhibited NO-induced phosphorylation of vasodilator-activated phosphoprotein, a target of cyclic guanine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase. Examination of the surface expression of integrins, the receptors for extracellular matrix components, revealed that alpha1 and alpha2 integrin subunits were more abundant on cells that were grown on collagen IV and that surface expression of beta1 integrin did not vary with collagen type. However, growth on collagen I induced beta1 integrin to adopt its active conformation, and this activation of beta1 integrin was accompanied by increased activity of its downstream effector ILK. Dominant-negative suppression of ILK signaling relieved the suppression of sGC expression and NO-induced vasodilator-activated phosphoprotein phosphorylation induced by collagen I.

Base Sequence↗

The alpha2 and alpha5 integrin genes: identification of transcription factors that regulate promoter activity in epidermal keratinocytes.

We analysed the activity of the proximal promoters of the alpha2 and alpha5 integrin genes in human keratinocytes. An AP-1 site, found in the alpha5 but not the alpha2 promoter, bound c-Jun/c-Fos dimers and contributed strongly to promoter activity. Both promoters had a CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) binding site: the alpha5 C/EBP element enhanced activity, while the alpha2 site was a negative regulatory element. C/EBP overexpression repressed the activity of both promoters, but the effect was independent of occupancy of the identified C/EBP binding sites, suggesting interactions with additional transcription factors. We propose that upregulation of C/EBPs contributes to the inhibition of integrin transcription during keratinocyte terminal differentiation, while AP-1 factors play a role in the selective induction of the alpha5 gene during wound healing.

Antigens, CD↗

Type VIII collagen stimulates smooth muscle cell migration and matrix metalloproteinase synthesis after arterial injury.

Type VIII collagen is a matrix protein expressed in a number of tissues undergoing active remodeling, including injured arteries during neointimal formation and in human atherosclerotic plaques; however, very little is known about its function. We have investigated whether the type VIII collagen stimulates smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and invasion by binding to integrin receptors and up-regulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production. SMCs attached to plates coated with type VIII collagen in a dose-dependent manner, with maximal attachment occurring with coating solutions containing 25 microgram/ml collagen. Type VIII collagen at 100 microgram/ml stimulated an 83-fold increase in the migration of SMCs in a chemotaxis chamber. Antibodies against beta1 integrin receptors prevented attachment and migration of SMCs. Antibodies against alpha1 or alpha2 integrins reduced attachment of SMCs to type VIII collagen by 29% and 77%, respectively. We found that SMCs grown from the rat neointima, but not medial SMCs, increased their production of MMP-2 and -9 on adherence to type VIII collagen. This suggests that there is an important difference in phenotype between intimal and medial SMCs and that intimal SMCs have distinct matrix-dependent signaling mechanisms. Our findings suggest that type VIII collagen deposited in vascular lesions functions to promote SMC attachment and chemotaxis, and signals through integrin receptors to stimulate MMP synthesis, all of which are important mechanisms used in cell migration and invasion.

Animals↗

The alpha2 and alpha3 integrins are required for morphologic differentiation of an intestinal epithelial cell line.

BACKGROUND: The molecular mechanisms controlling intestinal epithelial cell differentiation are poorly defined because of the difficulty of growing normal intestinal cells. We have taken advantage of the ability of the Caco-2 cell line to acquire a glandular phenotype in 3-dimensional (3-D) culture systems to investigate the role of alpha2 and alpha3 integrins in morphologic differentiation. METHODS: Caco-2 cells transfected with sense or antisense DNA constructs of alpha2 or alpha3 integrins were grown in 3-D Matrigel or collagen I in the presence or absence of integrin function-blocking antibodies. We used light and confocal microscopy, BrDU incorporation, TUNEL assay, a fluorometric adhesion assay, FACS analysis, and Western blot analysis to study the effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) and integrins on morphology, polarization, proliferation, apoptosis, cell adhesion, and integrin expression. RESULTS: Compared to collagen I, Caco-2 cells cultured in 3-D Matrigel display cytoskeletal and adherens junction rearrangements and decreased proliferation consistent with cellular differentiation. These changes, which are inhibited by alpha2 and alpha3 blocking monoclonal antibodies and alpha2 and alpha3 antisense DNA transfection, were associated with an increase in alpha3 integrin expression. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that signaling through both constitutively expressed alpha2 integrin and Matrigel-induced alpha3 integrin expression is required to acquire a differentiated phenotype in Caco-2 cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Altered integrin expression and the malignant phenotype: the contribution of multiple integrated integrin receptors.

The integrins are a family of cell surface adhesion receptors that mediate adhesion to either components of the extracellular matrix or to other cells. The beta1 family of integrins represent the major class of cell substrate receptors with specificities primarily for collagens, laminins, and fibronectins. The role of the integrin family of cell surface adhesion receptors in normal mammary gland morphogenesis and the contributions of altered integrin receptor expression to the invasive and metastatic phenotype have been the primary focus of our lab, as well as a number of other laboratories. The alpha2beta1 integrin is expressed at high levels by normal differentiated epithelial cells including those of the normal breast. Using breast cancer as a model, we evaluated changes in integrin expression in malignancy. We and other investigators made the key observation that alpha2beta1 integrin expression is decreased in adenocarcinoma of the breast in a manner that correlates with the stage of differentiation. Studies of other adenocarcinomas have yielded similar results. When the alpha2beta1 integrin was reexpressed in a poorly differentiated mammary carcinoma that expressed no detectable alpha2 integrin subunit, a dramatic reversion of malignant phenotype to a differentiated epithelial phenotype was observed, indicating a critical role for alpha2beta1 expression in mammary gland differentiation. Other laboratories using monoclonal antibodies to competitively inhibit alpha2beta1 integrin adhesion or oncogenic transformation using c-erb2 have confirmed the important role of that alpha2beta1 integrin in mammary gland morphogenesis. Re-expression of the alpha2beta1 integrin also results in upregulation of both the alpha6 and beta4 integrin subunits. To determine the contribution of enhanced alpha6 and beta4 integrin expression to the abrogation of the malignant phenotype by alpha2beta1 integrin expression, we have now separately re-expressed the human alpha6 or beta4 integrin subunit in the breast cancer model.

Breast↗

The PKD1 gene product, "polycystin-1," is a tyrosine-phosphorylated protein that colocalizes with alpha2beta1-integrin in focal clusters in adherent renal epithelia.

Mutations in the PKD1 gene are responsible for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Although PKD1 has been cloned and shown to be expressed at high levels in the fetal ureteric bud and ADPKD cystic epithelia in the human kidney, the function of its encoded protein, "polycystin-1" is unknown. In this study we used primary and immortalized human renal epithelial cell lines derived from normal fetal, adult, and ADPKD kidneys, that endogenously express PKD1, to study the biologic function of the polycystin-1 protein. ADPKD renal epithelial cells expressed high levels of polycystin-1 protein and showed increased adhesion to type I collagen by comparison with normal adult human renal epithelia that expressed little polycystin. Adherent ADPKD cells also expressed high levels of alpha2beta1-integrin and their attachment was inhibited by a functional monoclonal antibody to alpha2-integrin. Double labeling and confocal microscopy as well as coimmunoprecipitation analysis showed overlapping colocalization of polycystin-1 with alpha2beta1-integrin as well as with the focal adhesion proteins vinculin and paxillin in multiprotein clusters localized to focal areas of cell membrane contact with type I collagen matrix after short periods of attachment. Immunoprecipitation and Western immunoblot studies also showed that polycystin-1 was posttranslationally modified by tyrosine phosphorylation. These studies suggest that the PKD1-encoded protein is part of a large multiprotein complex in epithelial cells that functions in the regulation of extracellular matrix interactions with the plasma membrane and cell cytoskeleton.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Modulation of satellite cell adhesion and motility following BMP2-induced differentiation to osteoblast lineage.

Quiescent satellite cells represent pluripotent stem cells capable of differentiating into other lineages. To define the potential changes in adhesion and motility in these differentiating cells, we utilized an established model system of murine-derived satellite cells induced with BMP2 to undergo osteoblastic differentiation. When mouse myogenic satellite cells were treated with BMP2, myogenesis was inhibited, and interaction with extracellular matrix ligands was altered. alpha7 integrin expression was rapidly downregulated with attenuation of adhesion and migration on laminin substrates. BMP2 also induced alpha2 integrin expression with increased adhesion and motility on collagen substrates as the pluripotent myoblasts develop into the osteogenic lineage. We examined the effect of BMP2 on alpha7 promoter activity in myoblasts using a CAT reporter gene. BMP2 was found to suppress integrin expression through a transcriptional mechanism. The results identify a novel role for BMP2 in modulating satellite cell integrin expression and altering their interactions with the microenvironment during osteoblastic differentiation.

Animals↗

A streptococcal collagen-like protein interacts with the alpha2beta1 integrin and induces intracellular signaling.

The streptococcal collagen-like proteins Scl1 and Scl2 are prokaryotic members of a large protein family with domains containing the repeating amino acid sequence (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)(n) that form a collagen-like triple-helical structure. Here, we test the hypothesis that Scl variant might interact with mammalian collagen-binding integrins. We show that the recombinant Scl protein p176 promotes adhesion and spreading of human lung fibroblast cells through an alpha2beta1 integrin-mediated interaction as shown in cell adhesion inhibition assays using anti-alpha2beta1 and anti-beta1 integrins monoclonal antibodies. Accordingly, C2C12 cells stably expressing alpha2beta1 integrin as the only collagen-binding integrin show productive cell adhesion activities on p176 that can be blocked by an anti-alpha2beta1 integrin antibody. In addition, p176 promotes tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK) of C2C12 cells expressing alpha2beta1 integrin, whereas parental cells do not. Furthermore, C2C12 adhesion of human lung fibroblast cells to p176 induces phosphorylation of p125FAK, p130CAS, and p68Paxillin proteins. In a domain swapping experiment, we show that integrin binds to the collagenous domain of the Scl protein. Moreover, the recombinant inserted domain of the alpha2 integrin interacts with p176 with a relatively high affinity (K(D) = 17 nm). Attempts to identify the integrin sites in p176 suggest that more than one site may be involved. These studies, for the first time, suggest that the collagen-like proteins of prokaryotes retained not only structural but also functional characteristics of their eukaryotic counterparts.

Animals↗

E-cadherin is a ligand for integrin alpha2beta1.

E-cadherin is a 120-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein expressed mainly on the surface of epithelial cells. The best characterised function of E-cadherin is homotypic, calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion; however, the observation that E-cadherin is also capable of interacting with the alphaEbeta7 integrin to mediate leukocyte cell-cell adhesion [Nature 372 (1994) 190] suggests that it also participates in heterotypic interactions. To investigate the possibility that E-cadherin may interact with integrins expressed on non-leukocytic cells, cell adhesion and solid-phase receptor-ligand binding experiments were performed using a pentameric E-cadherin construct designed to detect low affinity, high avidity interactions. HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells specifically adhered to pentameric E-cadherin, and this adhesion was inhibited by anti-functional monoclonal antibodies directed against the integrin alpha2 and beta1 subunits, but not by a series of antibodies recognising other subunits. This suggested that the E-cadherin receptor was alpha2beta1, a previously characterised collagen/laminin receptor. Pentameric E-cadherin, but not monomeric E-cadherin, specifically bound, in a divalent cation-dependent manner, to both purified alpha2beta1 and to a recombinant form of the A-domain of the alpha2 subunit, which has been shown to be a major ligand-binding site within this and other integrins. These findings demonstrate that E-cadherin can interact with alpha2beta1 and suggest that heterotypic interactions between E-cadherin and integrins may be more common than originally thought.

Cadherins↗

Enhancement of cell adhesion and spreading by a cartilage-specific noncollagenous protein, cartilage matrix protein (CMP/Matrilin-1), via integrin alpha1beta1.

Cartilage matrix protein (CMP; also known as matrilin-1), one of the major noncollagenous proteins in most cartilages, binds to aggrecan and type II collagen. We examined the effect of CMP on the adhesion of chondrocytes and fibroblasts using CMP-coated dishes. The CMP coating at 10-20 micrograms/ml enhanced the adhesion and spreading of rabbit growth plate, resting and articular chondrocytes, and fibroblasts and human epiphyseal chondrocytes and MRC5 fibroblasts. The effect of CMP on the spreading of chondrocytes was synergistically increased by native, but not heated, type II collagen (gelatin). The monoclonal antibody to integrin alpha1 or beta1 abolished CMP-induced cell adhesion and spreading, whereas the antibody to integrin alpha2, alpha3, alpha5, beta2, alpha5beta1, or alphaVbeta5 had little effect on cell adhesion or spreading. The antibody to integrin alpha1, but not to other subunits, coprecipitated 125I-CMP that was added to MRC5 cell lysates, indicating the association of CMP with the integrin alpha1 subunit. Unlabeled CMP competed for the binding to integrin alpha1 with 125I-CMP. These findings suggest that CMP is a potent adhesion factor for chondrocytes, particularly in the presence of type II collagen, and that integrin alpha1beta1 is involved in CMP-mediated cell adhesion and spreading. Since CMP is expressed almost exclusively in cartilage, this adhesion factor, unlike fibronectin or laminin, may play a special role in the development and remodeling of cartilage.

Animals↗

Hypoxia and ionizing radiation: changes in adhesive properties and cell adhesion molecule expression in MG-63 three-dimensional tumor spheroids.

The effects of chemically induced hypoxia and ionizing radiation on the adhesive properties of MG-63 human osteosarcoma three-dimensional spheroids were investigated. Hypoxia was induced by addition of CoCl2 to small, nonhypoxic spheroids and verified by HIF-1alpha expression. In addition, the possible role of important cell adhesion molecules involved in tumor dissemination in inducing adhesive changes were also studied. In particular, two key integrins (i.e., the alpha chain of the fibronectin receptor, alpha5, and the alpha chain of the collagen receptor, alpha2), an important member of the immunoglobulin superfamily (CD54 or ICAM-1) and the strategic molecule CD44 (H-CAM, the principal receptor for hyaluronan) were examined. Because of the important role of fibronectin in adhesive processes, variations in this extracellular matrix component were also examined. The results seem to indicate that CoCl2-induced hypoxia greatly increases adhesion of MG-63 spheroids to both tissue culture plates and plates coated with fibronectin or collagen when compared to controls, while ionizing radiation induces a great decrease in this attachment. Furthermore, chemically induced hypoxia also partially inhibits the effects of ionizing radiation. The data also show that these adhesive changes are accompanied by concomitant variations in the expression of alpha5 and alpha2 integrins, CD44, and CD54 and fibronectin.

Adhesiveness↗

Membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) processing of pro-alphav integrin regulates cross-talk between alphavbeta3 and alpha2beta1 integrins in breast carcinoma cells.

We have recently demonstrated that in breast carcinoma MCF7 cells MT1-MMP processes the alphav, alpha3, and alpha5 integrin precursors generating the respective mature S-S-linked heavy and light alpha-chains. The precursor of alpha2 integrin subunit was found resistant to MT1-MMP proteolysis. The processing of the alphav subunit by MT1-MMP facilitated alphavbeta3-dependent adhesion, activation of FAK signaling pathway, and migration of MCF7 cells on vitronectin. To elucidate further the effects of MT1-MMP on cellular integrins, we examined the functional activity of alpha5beta1 and alpha2beta1 integrins in MCF7 cells expressing MT1-MMP. Either expression of MT1-MMP alone or its coexpression with alphavbeta3 failed to affect the functionality of alpha5beta1 integrin, and adhesion of cells to fibronectin. MT1-MMP, however, profoundly affected the cross-talk involving alphavbeta3 and alpha2beta1 integrins. In MT1-MMP-deficient cells, integrin alphavbeta3 suppressed the functional activity of the collagen-binding alpha2beta1 integrin receptor and diminished cell adhesion to type I collagen. Coexpression of MT1-MMP with integrin alphavbeta3 restored the functionality of alpha2beta1 integrin and, consequently, the ability of MCF7 cells to adhere efficiently to collagen. We conclude that the MT1-MMP-controlled cross-talk between alphavbeta3 and alpha2beta1 integrins supports binding of aggressive, MT1-MMP-, and alphavbeta3 integrin-expressing malignant cells on type I collagen, the most common substratum of the extracellular matrix.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Differential susceptibility of osteosarcoma cells and primary osteoblasts to cell detachment caused by snake venom metalloproteinase protein.

The interaction of extracellular matrix with cells plays a key role in the regulation of cell adhesion, migration, proliferation as well as differentiation. Transformed cells express a different profile of adhesion molecules, which may mediate metastasis under specific matrix microenvironment. We here found that ROS 17/2.8 osteosarcoma cells and osteoblasts have different expression of alpha5 integrin, executing different fibronectin fibrillogenesis. As compared with ROS 17/2.8 cells, osteoblasts have higher expression of fibronectin, collagen, alpha5, beta1, alpha2 integrins and focal adhesion kinase as examined by immunostaining and flow cytometry. Crovidisin, a PIII snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP) purified from venom of Crotalus viridis, exhibits collagen-binding activity and matrix metalloproteinase activity. Crovidisin selectively caused the detachment of ROS 17/2.8 osteosarcoma cells but not of primary cultured osteoblasts. On the other hand, triflavin, an RGD-dependent disintegrin purified from venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis, did not cause the detachment of both osteoblasts and ROS 17/2.8 cells. Although ROS 17/2.8 cells detached from substratum after crovidisin treatment for 24 h, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was not observed unless a prolonged treatment for longer than 36 h. These results suggest that cultured primary rat osteoblasts and ROS 17/2.8 osteosarcoma cells possess different expression of integrins and matrix environment, and ROS 17/2.8 is much more susceptible to be detached by crovidisin. The matrix degradation by crovidisin may be responsible for the preferential detachment of ROS 17/2.8 osteosarcoma cells.

Animals↗