Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Integrin beta Chains”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

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

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Integrin interactions with immobilized peptides in polyethylene glycol diacrylate hydrogels.

This study employs tissue-engineering technologies to evaluate neutrophil interactions with extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimetic peptides. We have used a polyethylene glycol (PEG) diacrylate derivative to form a hydrogel as a biologically inert surface. Covalent attachment of bioactive moieties to the hydrogel makes it bioactive. The goal is to define the mechanisms by which these moieties influence the interactions of neutrophils with this bioactive hydrogel, and thus understand the likely effects of similar ligands in the ECM. The current experiments analyze the interactions of isolated human neutrophils with PEG hydrogels modified with Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS), a known ligand for some beta(1) and beta(3) integrins, and Thr-Met-Lys-Ile-Ile-Pro-Phe-Asn-Arg-Leu-Thr-Ile-Gly-Gly (TMKIIPFNRLTIGG), a ligand for Mac-1, a beta(2) integrin. Our results demonstrate that neutrophils, independent of chemotactic stimulation, show little ability to adhere to unmodified PEG hydrogels. However, cell adhesion and spreading are robust on peptide-modified hydrogels. Incorporating distinct bioactive peptides, either alone or in combination, has enabled recognition of differential functions of alpha(v)beta(3), beta(1), and beta(2) integrins on neutrophil adhesion and spreading. Combined interactions result in activity that differs markedly from that seen with either integrin independently engaged. This model allows investigation of specific ligand-induced leukocyte functions and the development of engineered matrices with defined bioactive properties.

Acrylates↗

Cross talk between beta(1) and alpha(V) integrins: beta(1) affects beta(3) mRNA stability.

There is increasing evidence that a fine-tuned integrin cross talk can generate a high degree of specificity in cell adhesion, suggesting that spatially and temporally coordinated expression and activation of integrins are more important for regulated cell adhesive functions than the intrinsic specificity of individual receptors. However, little is known concerning the molecular mechanisms of integrin cross talk. With the use of beta(1)-null GD25 cells ectopically expressing the beta(1)A integrin subunit, we provide evidence for the existence of a cross talk between beta(1) and alpha(V) integrins that affects the ratio of alpha(V)beta(3) and alpha(V)beta(5) integrin cell surface levels. In particular, we demonstrate that a down-regulation of alpha(V)beta(3) and an up-regulation of alpha(V)beta(5) occur as a consequence of beta(1)A expression. Moreover, with the use of GD25 cells expressing the integrin isoforms beta(1)B and beta(1)D, as well as two beta(1) cytoplasmic domain deletion mutants lacking either the entire cytoplasmic domain (beta(1)TR) or only its "variable" region (beta(1)COM), we show that the effects of beta(1) over alpha(V) integrins take place irrespective of the type of beta(1) isoform, but require the presence of the "common" region of the beta(1) cytoplasmic domain. In an attempt to establish the regulatory mechanism(s) whereby beta(1) integrins exert their trans-acting functions, we have found that the down-regulation of alpha(V)beta(3) is due to a decreased beta(3) subunit mRNA stability, whereas the up-regulation of alpha(V)beta(5) is mainly due to translational or posttranslational events. These findings provide the first evidence for an integrin cross talk based on the regulation of mRNA stability.

Animals↗

Beta 8 integrins mediate interactions of chick sensory neurons with laminin-1, collagen IV, and fibronectin.

Integrins are major receptors used by cells to interact with extracellular matrices. In this paper, we identify the first ligands for the beta 8 family of integrins, presenting evidence that integrin heterodimers containing the beta 8 subunit mediate interactions of chick sensory neurons with laminin-1, collagen IV, and fibronectin. A polyclonal antibody, anti-beta 8-Ex, was prepared to a bacterial fusion protein expressing an extracellular portion of the chicken beta 8 subunit. In nonreducing conditions, this antibody immunoprecipitated from surface-labeled embryonic dorsal root ganglia neurons a M(r) 100 k protein, the expected M(r) of the beta 8 subunit, and putative alpha subunit(s) of M(r) 120 k. Affinity-purified anti-beta 8-Ex strongly inhibited sensory neurite outgrowth on laminin-1, collagen IV, and fibronectin-coated substrata. Binding sites were identified in a heat-resistant domain in laminin-1 and in the carboxyl terminal, 40-kDa fibronectin fragment. On substrates coated with the carboxyl terminal fragment of fibronectin, antibodies to beta 1 and beta 8 were only partially effective alone, but were completely effective in combination, at inhibiting neurite outgrowth. Results thus indicate that the integrin beta 8 subunit in association with one or more alpha subunits forms an important set of extracellular matrix receptors on sensory neurons.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The gene organization of the human beta 7 subunit, the common beta subunit of the leukocyte integrins HML-1 and LPAM-1.

The integrin beta 7 subunit associates with two alternative alpha subunits termed alpha HML-1 and alpha 4 to give the lymphocyte activation and homing receptors HML-1 and LPAM-1. Overlapping genomic clones that encoded the human beta 7 subunit gene were isolated from cosmid and phage lambda libraries. The coding portion of the gene spanned approximately 10 kb and was composed of 14 exons. Exon 1 (123 bp) encoded 5' untranslated sequences; exon 2 (204 bp) encoded the initiation codon, signal peptide, and 50 amino acid residues of the N-terminus of the mature protein; 7 exons (exons 3-9), ranging in size from 90 bp to 242 bp, encoded most of the extracellular domain proximal to the four cysteine-rich repeats; the region corresponding to the beta 3 arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD)-binding domain was divided amongst exons 4 and 5; the four cysteine-rich repeats were encoded by 3 exons (exons 10-12) with intron insertion into the first and third repeats; exon 13 (209 bp) provided a spacer between the cysteine-rich domains and the transmembrane domain; exon 14 (161 bp) encoded the transmembrane domain and exactly half of the cytoplasmic domain; the remainder of the cytoplasmic domain and most of the 3' untranslated region was contained in the largest 313 bp exon 15. Comparison of integrin beta subunit genes revealed that the gene organization of beta 7 was almost identical to that of beta 2, but had diverged from that of beta 3. Amplification of integrin DNAs directly from genomic DNA, using PCR primers based on beta subunit consensus sequences corresponding to the beta 3 RGD-binding domain, yielded partial gene sequences for the beta 3, beta 5, and beta 6 subunits only. Inspection of the amplified sequences revealed that, as for beta 3, the regions in beta 5 and beta 6 corresponding to the beta 3 RGD-binding domain lacked the intron present in beta 7, beta 1, and beta 2, which divides this region in beta 2 into two subdomains that contribute to subunit assembly. This study provides genetic evidence for at least two major branches to the integrin beta subunit evolutionary tree, with beta 7, beta 2, and probably beta 1 in one branch, and the cytoadhesin beta 3 and probably also beta 5 and beta 6 in the other.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Distinct binding specificities of integrins alpha 4 beta 7 (LPAM-1), alpha 4 beta 1 (VLA-4), and alpha IEL beta 7.

Integrin receptors are important for regulating lymphocyte recirculation and recruitment to sites of inflammation. Transfectants of the B cell lymphoma 38C13 were generated that differ exclusively in the expression of integrin beta 1 or beta 7 subunits allowing for a functional comparison of lymphocyte Peyer's patch HEV adhesion molecule 1 (LPAM-1) (alpha 4 beta 7) and very late antigen 4 (VLA-4) (alpha 4 beta 1) in an identical cellular environment. Whereas 38-beta 7 transfectants bound to purified and cellular mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule (MAdCAM-1), unstimulated 38-beta 1 cells failed to bind MAdCAM-1. Treatment of 38-beta 1 cells with Mn2+ but not with PMA induced low level binding to MAdCAM-1. MAdCAM-1 adhesion of 38-beta 7 cells was constitutive and not enhanced by Mn2+ treatment. Similarly, MAdCAM-1-dependent adhesion to mucosal high endothelial venules was shown for 38-beta 7 but not for 38-beta 1 cells. The results therefore establish the LPAM-1-MAdCAM-1 interaction as the functionally dominant adhesion pathway for regulating lymphocyte homing to mucosal sites. Nonetheless, the activated VLA-4 on some lymphocytes may be involved in MAdCAM-1 recognition or promote binding to MAdCAM-1 in other tissues. By contrast, 38-beta 7 and 38-beta 1 transfectants did not differ in their binding capacity for vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) or fibronectin and LPAM-1 did not display any preference for interacting with either MAdCAM-1 or VCAM-1. LPAM-1 may therefore contribute significantly to cellular functions previously attributed to VLA-4. Interestingly, functional analysis of the intraepithelial lymphocyte integrin alpha IEL beta 7 which is structurally related to LPAM-1 did not reveal detectable binding activity for MAdCAM-1, VCAM-1, or fibronectin.

Animals↗

CCR7 (EBI1) receptor down-regulation in asthma: differential gene expression in human CD4+ T lymphocytes.

Asthma is an inflammatory disorder, and the CD4+ T lymphocyte plays a key role in mediating the inflammatory response. We used a high-density grid, hybridization-based, differential gene expression technology to analyse molecular mechanisms underlying in vivo CD4+ T-cell activation in both steroid-resistant asthma (SRA) and steroid-sensitive asthma (SSA). Hybridization of radioactively-labelled first-strand cDNAs prepared from different biological samples, to identical high-density gridded arrays of PCR amplicons derived from cDNA clone inserts immobilized on nylon membranes, was compared by phosphorimaging. Hybridization data were captured and processed using image analysis software that can identify the location and signal intensity of each hybridized cDNA. This produces a hierarchy of signals of differing intensities between the two grids, representing differential gene expression in the two different RNA samples. CCR7 (EBI1), a lymphocyte-specific G-protein-coupled receptor, was down-regulated in the CD4+ T cells of SRA and SSA non-atopic, compared to non-asthmatic non-atopic individuals. This observation is intriguing given that CCR7 and its ligand EBI1-Ligand Chemokine (ELC), may play a role in the migration and homing of normal lymphocytes. Also, TNFR2 is up-regulated in both SSA non-atopic and SRA atopic as compared to non-asthmatic controls. LAMR1 is down-regulated in CD4+ T cells of SRA compared to non-asthmatic individuals, irrespective of their atopic status. These could be general phenomena resulting from cytokine release.

Adult↗

Characterization of integrin expression in the mouse ovary.

Integrin alpha:beta heterodimers mediate cell contacts to the extracellular matrix and initiate intracellular signaling cascades in response to a variety of factors. Integrins interact with many determinants of cellular phenotypes and play roles in controlling the development, structural integrity, and function of every type of tissue. Despite their importance, little is known about the regulation of integrin subunits in the mammalian ovary and how they function in folliculogenesis. To determine their relevance to ovarian physiology, we have studied the expression of integrin subunit mRNAs by Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization in ovaries of wild-type, growth differentiation factor 9 (Gdf 9) knockout, FSHbeta (Fshb) knockout, and inhibin alpha (Inha) knockout mice. Integrin alpha6 mRNA is expressed in oocytes and granulosa cells of single-layer follicles and in oocytes and theca cells of multilayer follicles. Integrin alpha6 is highly expressed in Gdf 9 knockout ovaries, which are enriched in oocytes and primary (single layer) follicles because of a block at this stage of follicular development. Integrin alpha(v) mRNA is most highly expressed in the granulosa cells of multilayer growing follicles, and therefore only low levels of expression are detectable in the Gdf 9 knockout ovaries. Integrin beta1 mRNA exhibits a broad expression pattern in ovaries, including oocytes, granulosa cells, theca cells, and corpora lutea. Integrin beta3 mRNA is expressed in theca and interstitial cells and is upregulated in corpora lutea. It is nearly undetectable in ovaries of Fshb knockout mice, which develop preantral follicles but have no luteal cells. Integrin beta5 mRNA is predominantly expressed in granulosa cells of multilayer follicles. It is expressed at high levels in the Fshb knockout mice and in a compartmentalized manner in the granulosa cell/Sertoli cell tumors that develop in the Inha knockout mice. Specific integrins are associated with ovarian cellular phenotypes in mice, which raises intriguing possibilities as to integrin functions in oocyte competence, follicular development, luteinization, and granulosa cell proliferation.

Animals↗

Tumor necrosis factor and vascular endothelial growth factor induce endothelial integrin repertories, regulating endovascular differentiation and apoptosis in a human extravillous trophoblast cell line.

Angiogenesis is crucial in human development. Extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells mimic endothelial cells in angiogenesis during endovascular differentiation, inducing a remodeling of spiral arteries that increases blood flow toward the intravillous space. We have previously shown that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha regulates expression of ITGA6 and ITGA1, which are involved in cell survival, in the human EVT cell line TCL1. To further investigate endovascular differentiation, we examined the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), TNF, and extracellular matrix (ECM) on TCL1 cells. Seeded on Matrigel, TCL1 cells show tube-like formation that specifically recalls morphological changes in endothelial cells. Anti-ITGAV/ITGB3 antibodies significantly reduced the size of the capillary network (P < 0.05) on Matrigel and also suppressed TNF-induced apoptosis (P < 0.05) in TCL1 cells. VEGF induced expression of ITGAV/ITGB3 subunits and protein aggregation, as in the case of TNF, which in turn, induces synthesis of VEGF in TCL1 cells. Soluble FLT1 suppressed these activities in TCL1 cells, indicating that signals involving VEGF axis are essential for endovascular differentiation. These results suggest that TNF, VEGF, and ECM collaboratively regulate EVT behavior, including cell survival and endovascular differentiation, through integrin signaling during establishment and maintenance of successful human pregnancies.

Apoptosis↗

Adhesion and signaling by B cell-derived exosomes: the role of integrins.

Exosomes are nanometer-sized vesicles secreted by various cells, with potentially diverse roles in physiology. Although emphasis has been placed on their involvement in immune modulation, their potential for more wide-ranging biological effects has not been appreciated. A common exosome feature is the expression of adhesion molecules, which include the integrin family. We have for the first time addressed the possible function of B cell-derived exosome-integrins by examining adhesive interactions of exosomes (immobilized onto beads) with extracellular matrix (ECM) components and cytokine-treated fibroblasts. Integrin (beta1 and beta2) expression was demonstrated by Western blotting and flow cytometry. Binding studies (with blocking antibodies) demonstrated their function in adhesion to collagen-I, fibronectin, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-activated fibroblasts. Exosome adhesion to TNF-alpha-activated fibroblasts also triggered integrin-dependent changes in cytosolic calcium, measured by single cell imaging. Thus, B cell-derived exosomes express functional integrins, which are capable of mediating anchorage to ECM and cell-surface adhesion molecules, and may be a novel mode of delivering adhesion signals at distances beyond that of direct cell-cell contact during inflammation.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Monoclonal antibody against beta7 integrins, but not beta7 deficiency, attenuates intestinal allograft rejection in mice.

BACKGROUND: beta7 integrins mediate homing and retention of lymphocytes to the normal and inflamed small bowel in a tissue-selective fashion. In the present study, we investigated the expression of beta7 integrins after small bowel transplantation (SBT) and tested the effects of blocking beta7-mediated pathways by using monoclonal antibody (mAb) or knockout mice. METHODS: Heterotopic SBT from BALB/c to C57BL/6 (B6) was used as a surgical model. Expression of beta7 integrins was measured on recipient lymphocytes (CD4 and CD8 ) in spleen, blood, and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) using flow cytometry. To analyze the effects of blocking beta7 integrins on graft survival, either beta7-deficient B6 or wild-type B6 mice that were treated with mAb against beta7 were studied. RESULTS: After allogeneic SBT, there were markedly increased levels of alpha4beta7 recipient CD8 lymphocytes in MLN, blood, and spleen as early as 3 days postoperatively. In contrast, alpha4beta7 integrin levels in isograft recipients were similar to those of normal mice. Mean survival time of intestinal allografts was not affected by beta7 deficiency (7.3+/-1 days) compared with wild-type mice (7.5+/-0.8 days). However, mAb against beta7 integrins significantly prolonged graft survival (12.8+/-1 days) compared with treatment with control mAb (7.3+/-1 days, <0.001). Histologic changes of SBT rejection were significantly attenuated when mice were given mAb against beta7. CONCLUSION: As indicated by the increased levels of alpha4beta7 CD8 lymphocytes, activation of this integrin contributes to the immune response in SBT rejection. Furthermore, blocking beta7 integrins with mAb provides a suitable target for immunosuppressive therapy. The discrepancy in survival data obtained by mAb and beta7 deficiency may be a result of the more rapid activation of compensatory mechanisms in the knockout mice.

Animals↗

Human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type 1 syncytium formation is regulated in a cell-specific manner by ICAM-1, ICAM-3 and VCAM-1 and can be inhibited by antibodies to integrin beta2 or beta7.

Human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a pathogenic retrovirus responsible for a number of inflammatory pathologies and adult T-cell leukaemia. Although T-cell tropic in vivo, HTLV-1 can infect a wide variety of cell types in vitro. Cell-to-cell spread of HTLV-1 may require specific binding of envelope to its cellular receptor, with other cell-surface molecules facilitating fusion. Here it is shown that intercellular adhesion molecule-1 or -3 (ICAM-1, ICAM-3) or vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) are required for syncytium formation of K562 with HTLV-1-infected MT2 cells but not C91-PL cells. The effect of ICAMs and VCAM-1 on MT2-induced fusion can be blocked by antibodies that bind beta-integrins. These fusion co-factor molecules are effective only when present in combination with HTLV-1 receptor-bearing cells and are not sufficient to mediate syncytium formation alone. The results suggest that engagement of HTLV-1-infected cells with susceptible target cells requires the simultaneous binding of viral envelope glycoprotein to the cellular receptor and co-factor molecules to beta-integrins. The tissue-specific expression of adhesion molecules might therefore influence HTLV-1 virus tropism and pathogenic changes associated with syncytium formation.

Animals↗

Integrin expression in cells of the intervertebral disc.

In this study, we investigated the profile of integrin expression in human and porcine intervertebral disc tissue. Differences in extracellular matrix composition between anulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) regions of the disc, as well as differences in cellular responses to environmental stimuli, suggest a role for integrins in presenting matrix signals that may mediate these responses. Human disc tissue and porcine AF and NP tissue were stained with antibodies to alpha integrin subunits 1-6, V and IIb, and beta integrin subunits 1-6 and graded for evidence of positive staining on a scale from 0 (no staining) to 3 (high incidence of staining). Human tissue expressed alpha and beta integrin subunits shown to be present in articular cartilage, including alpha(1), alpha(5) and alpha(V). Porcine AF tissue expressed similar integrin subunits to human disc, with both expressing alpha(1), alpha(5), beta(1), beta(3) and beta(5) subunits, whereas porcine NP tissue expressed higher levels of alpha(6), beta(1) and beta(4) than AF tissue. The expressed subunits are known to interact with proteins including collagens, fibronectin and laminin; however, additional studies will be required to characterize the interactions of the integrin subunits with specific matrix constituents, as well as their specific involvement in regulating environmental stimuli.

Animals↗

Dendritic cell appearance and differentiation during early and late stages of rat stomach carcinogenesis.

Dendritic cell appearance and differentiation during early and late stages of rat stomach carcinogenesis were studied in the pyloric mucosa. Young male rats were given drinking water with or without N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG; 100 mg/liter) for 14 days. Use of competitive RT-PCR and northern blotting showed that MNNG exposure induced 3- to 4-fold greater expression of the genes for integrin beta7 and integrin alphaE2 (identical with antigen OX-62, a dendritic cell marker), as well as three cytokines, IL-4, GM-CSF and TNFalpha, in the stomach pyloric mucosa of resistant Buffalo rats compared to sensitive ACI rats. These genes were minimally expressed in control animals. The results confirm the appearance of dendritic cells in the target pyloric mucosa and suggest the possibility that dendritic cell differentiation and maturation are induced by various cytokines, at least in Buffalo rats. Competitive RT-PCR showed expression of integrin alphaE2 and beta7, MHC class II-associated invariant chain (Ii), MHC class II, B7-1, CD28, GM-CSF and TNFalpha genes in all 12 examined stomach adenocarcinomas and adenomas induced in male Lewis and WKY rats with 30 weeks' MNNG exposure, suggesting the presence of dendritic cells in tumors. OX-62 staining and western blotting for OX-62 also confirmed the presence of dendritic cells in tumors. However, the population of dendritic cells in tumors was less than that in the pyloric mucosa after 14 days' MNNG exposure. The present results suggest that immune defense involving dendritic cells is marshaled from the very early initiation stage during rat stomach cancer development, but is downgraded in developed tumors.

Animals↗

Human NK cells expressing alpha 4 beta 1/beta 7 adhere to VCAM-1 without preactivation.

The authors demonstrate that resting CD56+/CD3- NK cell adhesion to the endothelial VCAM-1 is over three-fold higher than CD56-/CD3+ T-cell adhesion. T-cell, but not NK-cell adhesion, to VCAM-1 is enhanced significantly by stimulation. The expression of VCAM-1 receptor subunits alpha 4 and beta 1 on both effector cells remains unchanged upon stimulation. A subpopulation of NK cells, as well as of T cells, was found to express beta 7, whose expression was not altered upon stimulation. The authors conclude that the adhesive properties of the same receptor structures on these distinct cell populations are regulated in a different manner, according to the specific functions of the effector cells of the immune system.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Integrin distribution in gastric carcinoma: association of beta 3 and beta 5 integrins with tumor invasiveness.

Immunolocalization of a variety of integrins using monoclonal antibodies against beta 3, beta 5, alpha 3 beta 1 and alpha 6, and polyclonal antibodies against vitronectin receptor (alpha v beta 3) and beta 1 were investigated on PLP-fixed paraffin sections of 19 cases of advanced gastric carcinomas. The beta 5 integrin, which pairs only with the alpha v subunit, was positive in seven cases (37%), and was associated closely with scirrhous invasion (P < 0.05). beta 5 was positive chiefly in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells and infrequently in cell membranes. beta 3, which is another subunit pairing with alpha v, was positive in six cases (32%), and tended to be associated with scirrhous invasion (P < 0.01). beta 3 was also located chiefly in the cytoplasm. Five of the seven beta 5-positive cases showed coexpression of beta 3. Polyclonal antibodies to alpha v beta 3 also showed a significant difference among the amounts of stroma (P < 0.05). Anti-beta 1 antibodies showed clear positivity in many cases (89%). Of the beta 1 integrins, alpha 3 beta 1 was positive in a few cases (26%) without any preferential pattern, and laminin receptor subunit alpha 6 stained on cell membranes of neoplastic epithelia in many cases of carcinoma (89%) except for mucinous carcinoma These distinctive patterns of integrin positivity indicate a close association of beta 5 and beta 3 expression with scirrhous invasion in gastric carcinoma.

Adult↗

Platelet glycoprotein I(b)alpha and integrin alpha2 beta1 polymorphisms: gene frequencies and linkage disequilibrium in a population diversity panel.

Genetic variants in the GP1BA and ITGA2 genes have been proposed as potential modifiers for arterial vascular disease and bleeding disorders. Since ancestry may play an important role in the prevalence of these variants, we sought to determine their allele frequency and linkage disequilibrium in a collection of 1064 DNA samples from 51 ethnic groups. We studied haplotypes of ITGA2 defined by single nucleotide substitutions at positions -52, 807, and 1648, and GP1BA variants defined by sequence changes in positions -5 (Kozak), 1018 (T145M, HPA-2) and 1285 (VNTR A, B, C and D). Frequency of haplotypes of ITGA2 showed considerable variation across the different groups, with a higher prevalence of the haplotype -52C or T/807C/1648A observed in African compared with caucasian and Asian populations. The haplotypes 52C/807T/1648A and -52T/807T/1648A were not observed in caucasians or South Americans. While relative frequencies of the GP1BA Kozak alleles were comparable across groups, the methionine allele (HPA-2b) showed a higher frequency in Africa (0.26) than in the other groups. We also observed a high prevalence of the VNTR B allele in the African and Israeli populations. Haplotype analysis revealed incomplete linkage disequilibrium between the HPA-2 and VNTR alleles. Incorporation of GP1BA variants into the set of SNPs already genotyped by the HapMap project disrupted the pre-existing haplotype block. These data provide a valuable resource for optimal selection of variants best tailored for association studies of vascular disease or bleeding disorders when examining individuals of different ancestral origins.

Alleles↗

Talin binding to integrin beta tails: a final common step in integrin activation.

Control of integrin affinity for ligands (integrin activation) is essential for normal cell adhesion, migration, and assembly of an extracellular matrix. Integrin activation is usually mediated through the integrin beta subunit cytoplasmic tail and can be regulated by many different biochemical signaling pathways. We report that specific binding of the cytoskeletal protein talin to integrin beta subunit cytoplasmic tails leads to the conformational rearrangements of integrin extracellular domains that increase their affinity. Thus, regulated binding of talin to integrin beta tails is a final common element of cellular signaling cascades that control integrin activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Oral immunization with a Salmonella enterica serovar typhi vaccine induces specific circulating mucosa-homing CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in humans.

The kinetics and homing characteristics of T-cell responses in humans after mucosal immunizations have not been well characterized. Therefore, we have investigated the magnitude and duration of such responses as well as the homing receptor expression of antigen-specific peripheral blood T cells by using an oral model vaccine, i.e., the live, attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi vaccine (Ty21a). Eight volunteers were each given three doses of the vaccine 2 days apart, and blood samples, from which CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were selected by the use of magnetic beads, were collected before vaccination and at regular intervals thereafter. To purify the potentially antigen-specific gut-homing T cells, CD45RA(-) integrin beta(7)(+) cells were further sorted by flow cytometry. The sorted cells were then stimulated in vitro with the serovar Typhi vaccine strain, and the proliferation of cells and the cytokine production were measured. Following vaccination, there was a large increase in both the proliferation of and the gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production by blood T cells stimulated with the vaccine strain. The responses were seen among both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, although the CD8(+) cells produced the largest amounts of IFN-gamma. Peak responses were seen 7 to 14 days after the onset of vaccination. Furthermore, most of the IFN-gamma produced by both CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells emanated from cells with the potential to home to mucosal tissues, as the integrin beta(7)-expressing memory T cells produced around 10-fold more IFN-gamma than the remaining populations. In conclusion, we demonstrate that oral vaccination with a live oral bacterial vaccine induces antigen-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) memory T cells, almost all of which express the gut-homing integrin beta(7).

Administration, Oral↗