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alpha1beta1-integrin engagement to distinct laminin-1 domains orchestrates spreading, migration and survival of neural crest cells through independent signaling pathways.

Integrin engagement regulates cell adhesion, shape, migration, growth, and differentiation, but molecular mechanisms coordinating these functions in cells remain unclear. Because of their migratory and differentiation potential, neural crest cells constitute a powerful paradigm to address this question. Here, we describe that laminin-1, a major component of their migration routes, promotes crest cell spreading, migration and survival through two distinct integrin-binding domains that are situated on both sides of its alpha1 subunit and can be separated in the LN-1 elastase proteolytic fragments E1' and E8. Interaction with either domain was mediated by the same integrin alpha1beta1 but produced distinct, complementary responses through specific signaling cascades. FAK activation upon E8 binding induced spreading, formation of actin bundles and focal adhesions, stimulated oriented migration, but failed to support survival. Conversely, Erk activation upon E1' binding promoted long-term survival and random migration without actin reorganization. Consistent with this, interaction with laminin-5 or laminin-10/11, which do not harbor integrin-binding domains in the N-terminal side of their alpha chains, failed to support survival. Thus, the signaling activity and function of integrins might depend on binding domains in their ligands, thereby revealing ligand control of integrin function as a possible mechanism for the modulation and coordination of cell response to adhesive signals.

Animals↗

Expression of the integrin genes in the developing cochlea of rats.

Integrins play an important role in the development of the cochlea. However, little is known about the expression pattern of integrins in the developing cochlear tissue. In this study, we investigated the dynamic expression profile of the integrin genes in the developing cochlear tissue of rats by Affymetrix microarrays and explored the role of the integrin genes in vitro by using antisense oligonucleotides. It was demonstrated that the alpha1, alpha7, alphav, beta3, and beta4 genes were expressed in the developing cochlear tissue of rats. Inhibition of the integrin expression with antisense oligonucleotides against alphav, alpha7, beta3, and beta4, respectively, in cochlear sensorineural epithelial cells significantly decreased the [3H]thymidine incorporation, suggesting that these integrins are involved in cell growth and proliferation. Inhibition of the alphav and beta4 integrins significantly decreased the transcription of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB, a signal molecule involved in cell growth and proliferation) induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), respectively. It suggests that EGF-induced cell growth is dependent upon the alphav integrin whereas bFGF-induced cell growth is dependent upon the beta4 integrin in the cochlear tissue during the development of the inner ear.

Animals↗

Diffuse leiomyomatosis of the esophagus: disorder of cell-matrix interaction?

Diffuse leiomyomatosis (DL) is rare condition characterized by proliferation of smooth muscle in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Most cases are associated with X-linked Alport syndrome and have partial deletions in the genes encoding both the alpha5 and alpha6 chains of collagen type IV. We studied aspects of cell-matrix interaction of myocytes in an esophagogastrectomy specimen from a 12-year-old patient with DL. Myocytes had central areas of cytoplasmic rarefaction, which were actin positive and desmin poor, with the reverse pattern of staining at the cell periphery. Electron microscopy (EM) showed that the areas of rarefaction consisted of disorganized aggregates of filaments. The basement membranes ranged from thickened to thinned or absent. Immunohistochemical staining for the alpha1-alpha4 chains of collagen type IV, the alpha1, alpha2, beta2, and gamma1 chains of laminin, nidogen, type VI collagen, and fibronectin was normal. There was loss of the alpha5 and alpha6 chains of collagen type IV and the beta1 chain of laminin. Normal staining for alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, alpha4, alpha6, alpha8, and beta1 integrins was noted. Staining for alpha5 integrin varied from normal to reduced or negative in different cells. In DL, a primary abnormality of basement membrane may be associated with disorganization of the contractile apparatus and alterations of certain integrins. This may reflect a disturbance of cell-matrix interactions that play a role in cell differentiation and internal organization.

Barrett Esophagus↗

Identification of haptoglobin as an alternative ligand for CD11b/CD18.

Haptoglobin is an acute phase protein with presumed anti-inflammatory activities. We report that purified fluorescein-labeled haptoglobin 1-1 binds to THP1 and U937 promonocytic cell lines, to monocytes, to granulocytes, and to a subset of CD8+ T cells and to NK cells. Studies with radioiodinated haptoglobin on THP1 cells were consistent with specific binding to one class of receptors with a density of 1.7 x 10(5) binding sites per cell and a low affinity of 6.5 x 10(-6) Kd. Binding was increased by Ca2+ and by Ca2+ and ADP. Binding to THP1 and U937 cells could be inhibited by preincubation with nonfluoresceinated haptoglobin and by fibrinogen, but not by albumin, transferrin, or alpha1-acid glycoprotein. Fibrinogen binds to the CD11b/CD18 integrin. We therefore examined whether haptoglobin has the same receptor. The anti-CD11b mAb44 indeed inhibited the binding of fluoresceinated haptoglobin to THP1 and U937 cell lines, and haptoglobin inhibited the binding of the anti-CD11b mAb anti-Leu15 and mAb44 to both cell lines. An anti-CD18 mAb partly inhibited the binding of fluoresceinated haptoglobin to THP1 and U937, indicating that the beta-chain of MAC-1 is also involved in haptoglobin binding. There was no interference between the binding of anti-CD4, anti-CD11a, or anti-CD11c mAb and haptoglobin binding to THP1 cells. Binding of haptoglobin to purified CD11b/CD18 indicates that it binds directly to the receptor. Haptoglobin is an alternative low affinity ligand for the CD11b/CD18 integrin, suggesting that this acute phase protein might regulate MAC-1-dependent cell function in vivo.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Strial marginal cells play a role in basement membrane homeostasis: in vitro and in vivo evidence.

The interaction of extracellular matrix and receptors plays a role in tissue homeostasis. The thickened strial capillary basement membrane (SCBM) reported in animal models of presbycusis and Alport's syndrome might be secondary to elevated synthesis and/or decreased turnover of specific basement membrane (BM) components. In this study, expression of specific BM proteins, integrin receptors and mediators of matrix turnover in the murine lateral wall were determined using cDNA probes and antibodies. The presence of collagen alpha1 and alpha2(IV) and laminin-8 in the SCBM was verified. The integrin subunits alpha3, alphav and beta1, cell surface receptors for the BM proteins, localized primarily to the SCBM and/or the strial marginal cells as did TIMP-3, a tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase. The epithelial cell line SV-k1, derived from the lateral wall of the 'immortomouse', showed expression of the same BM proteins as well as demonstrating the presence of markers specific to strial marginal cells, namely Na,K-ATPase alpha1 and beta2 subunits. Thus, the cultured cells are identified as deriving from marginal cells of the stria vascularis. Moreover, these data suggest that a culture system using this marginal cell line will be useful to delineate mechanisms underlying the pathologic accumulation of extracellular matrix in the SCBM.

Animals↗

Effect of gel re-organization and tensional forces on alpha2beta1 integrin levels in dermal fibroblasts.

Mechanical forces are known to play an important role in regulating cell function in a wide range of biological systems. This is of particular relevance to dermal fibroblast function, given that the skin is known to be held under an intrinsic natural tension. To understand more about the generation of force by dermal fibroblasts and their ability to respond to changes in it, we have studied the role of the beta1 integrin receptors expressed by dermal fibroblasts in their ability to generate tensional forces within a collagen type I matrix and the effect of altered tensional force on integrin expression by dermal fibroblasts. Using a purpose-built culture force monitor, function-blocking antibodies directed towards the beta1 receptors dramatically reduced the tensional forces generated by dermal fibroblasts in a 3D collagen I matrix. However, the specific involvement of alpha1 or alpha2 subunits could not be demonstrated. Analysis of cellular response demonstrated that cells isolated from contracting collagen gels expressed fourfold higher levels of alpha2 mRNA than cells isolated from fully restrained gels. The levels of beta1 messenger RNA were relatively unaffected by reductions in force. Cells exposed to single reductions in force, however, did not exhibit alterations in either alpha1 or beta1 mRNA levels. We propose, therefore that alpha2beta1 integrin receptor levels in dermal fibroblasts are not altered in response to single reductions of gel tension, but do change following a continual change in force and associated matrix re-organization

Antigens, CD↗

Inhibition of proprotein convertases enhances cell migration and metastases development of human colon carcinoma cells in a rat model.

Although proprotein convertases are involved in tumor development, nothing is known about their role in metastatic dissemination. To investigate the involvement of convertase inhibition, we used human colon carcinoma cells overexpressing alpha1-antitrypsin Portland (alpha1-PDX, PDX39P cells), a potent convertase inhibitor. We previously reported that these cells bear uncleaved integrin alpha subunits and display an altered attachment to vitronectin that is correlated with defects in the intracellular signaling pathways activated by alphavbeta5 integrin ligation. In this study, we demonstrate that the inhibition of proprotein convertase activity either by overexpression of alpha1-PDX or with the synthetic inhibitor decanoyl-Arg-Val-Lys-Arg-chloromethylketone (dec-RVKR-cmk) led to a significant increase in cell migration supported by the alphavbeta5 integrin. A collagen gel invasion assay showed that PDX39P cells also displayed an invasive ability, contrary to control cells. Moreover, when injected to immunosuppressed newborn rats, PDX39P cells were highly invasive, as they induce 10 times more metastases than mock-transfected cells. In addition, the aggressiveness of PDX39P cells can be greatly reduced by a function-blocking monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the alphav subunit. It thus seems that inhibition of proprotein convertases enhances the in vivo invasiveness of colon tumor cells likely due to an increase in cell migration mediated by alphav integrins.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Retinoic acid effects on an SV-40 large T antigen immortalized adult rat bone cell line.

Clonal cell lines were established from adult rat tibia cells immortalized with SV-40 large T antigen. One clone (TRAB-11), in which retinoic acid (RA) induced alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, was selected for further study. The TRAB-11 cells express high levels of type I collagen mRNA, type IV collagen, fibronectin, practically no type III collagen, little osteopontin, and no osteocalcin. RA stimulates proliferation of TRAB-11 cells (starting at 10 pM) and survival (starting at 100 pM). TRAB-11 cells synthesize fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), which has potent autocrine mitogenic effects on these cells and acts synergistically with RA. TRAB-11 cells attach better to type IV collagen than to fibronectin or laminin. Cell attachment to type IV collagen is increased by RA and decreased (65%) by an antibody directed against alpha1beta1 integrin. RA up-regulates steady-state levels of alpha1, mRNA without affecting beta1 mRNA expression. In conclusion, we report the establishment of a clonal cell line from the outgrowth of adult rat tibiae which is highly sensitive to RA in its growth and survival in culture, apparently as a result of integrin-mediated cell interaction with extracellular matrix proteins.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Integrin pattern and effect on contraction in cultured testicular peritubular myoid cells.

PROBLEM: Neither the integrin pattern nor the biological functions of integrins have been extensively documented in human cultured testicular peritubular myoid cells (TPMC). The integrin pattern and the presence of some proteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily on human TPMC as well as the role of integrins in TPMC contraction were examined. METHOD OF STUDY: Integrin expression was evaluated by immunofluorescence and FACS analysis. To assess the role of integrin in TPMC contraction, human and rat cells were added to a collagen gel system and exposed to contractile stimuli. RESULTS: The immunofluorescence and cytofluorimetric analysis showed that human cultured TPMC express alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, alpha4, alpha5, alpha6, alphav, beta1, beta3, and beta4 integrin subunits, and significant amounts of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), whereas they do not present alpha4, beta2, beta7 subunits, nor intercellular adhesion molecule-2 (ICAM-2) and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). The preincubation of human cells with an anti-beta1 mAb and of rat cells with a polyclonal anti-beta1 antibody inhibited TPMC contraction induced by different contractile stimuli. CONCLUSION: Our investigation documented a broad integrin pattern on human cultured TPMC as well as a role for integrins in human and rat TPMC contraction.

Adult↗

Novel activating and inactivating mutations in the integrin beta1 subunit A domain.

The ligand-binding activity of integrins is regulated by shape changes that convert these receptors from a resting (or inactive) state to an active state. However, the precise conformational changes that take place in head region of integrins (the site of ligand binding) during activation are not well understood. The portion of the integrin beta subunit involved in ligand recognition contains a von Willebrand factor type A domain, which comprises a central beta-sheet surrounded by seven alpha helices (alpha1-alpha7). Using site-directed mutagenesis, we show here that point mutation of hydrophobic residues in the alpha1 and alpha7 helices (which would be predicted to increase the mobility of these helices) markedly increases the ligand-binding activity of both integrins alpha5beta1 and alpha4beta1. In contrast, mutation of a hydrophilic residue near the base of the alpha1 helix decreases activity and also suppresses exposure of activation epitopes on the underlying hybrid domain. Our results provide new evidence that shifts of the alpha1 and alpha7 helices are involved in activation of the A domain. Although these changes are grossly similar to those defined in the A domains found in some integrin alpha subunits, movement of the alpha1 helix appears to play a more prominent role in betaA domain activation.

Alanine↗

Tractional force generation by human müller cells: growth factor responsiveness and integrin receptor involvement.

PURPOSE: To assess the ability of human Müller cells to generate tractional forces and to determine the role of growth factors and collagen binding integrins in this process. METHODS: Müller cells were isolated from papain-DNase-digested human retina. Cell identity and changes in cell phenotype were confirmed by immunodetection of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP), vimentin, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA). Generation of tractional force was assessed with a tissue culture assay involving incubation of cells on three-dimensional collagen gels. The effects of contraction-promoting growth factors were examined by adding these directly to the culture medium. Müller cell expression and the involvement of specific integrin receptors were assessed by immunodetection, RT-PCR, and subunit-specific blocking antibodies. RESULTS: During maintenance in culture, human Müller cells adopted a fibroblast-like phenotype capable of generating tractional forces. Matrix contraction was stimulated in a dose-dependent fashion by insulin-like growth factor I and platelet-derived growth factor. Modest responses were observed with high concentrations of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and -beta2. Müller cells express all four integrin subunits that comprise the collagen-binding receptors including alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, and beta1. Blocking antibodies against receptor subunits alpha2 and beta1 significantly reduced the overall rate of matrix contraction. Antibodies against the alpha1 subunit were modestly inhibitory, whereas anti-alpha3 was without effect. CONCLUSIONS: Human Müller cells acquire the capacity to generate tractional forces in vitro and the contraction-promoting growth factors insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) are potent stimuli. Generation of tractional force by Müller cells primarily involves integrin receptors containing alpha2 and beta1 subunits.

Actins↗

Evaluation of radiolabeled type IV collagen fragments as potential tumor imaging agents.

The objective of this study was to examine radiopharmaceuticals that target the alpha3beta1 integrin to determine if these agents target tumors for diagnostic imaging and/or targeted radiotherapy of cancer. Prior studies had shown that residues 531-542 from the alpha1 chain of type IV collagen bind a variety of tumor cell alpha3beta1 integrins. A peptide mimic of this sequence containing all D-amino acids (designated D-Hep-III) was synthesized by solid-phase methods. The tetraazamacrocyclic chelator, TETA, was conjugated to the peptide while it was resin-bound. TETA-D-Hep-III and D-Hep-III were radiolabeled with 64Cu and 125I, respectively, in high specific activity and radiochemical purity. Heterologous competitive binding assays between D-Hep-III and either 125I-D-Hep-III or 64Cu-TETA-D-Hep-III indicated low micromolar affinity of D-Hep-III. The biodistribution of each radiolabeled analogue of D-Hep-III was carried out in rats and tumor-bearing mice. Both analogues were rapidly cleared from the blood in normal rats, with the kidneys receiving the highest accumulation of each. SKOV3 human ovarian tumor cells, known to strongly express alpha3beta1, were xenografted in SCID mice. Localization of 125I-D-Hep III and 64Cu-TETA-D-Hep III in the xenografts were low (<2% ID/g), and in the case of 125I-D-Hep III, not inhibited by a competitive dose of D-Hep III. The low tumor accumulation is likely not due to receptor down-regulation, but rather due to the weak affinity of the radioligands for the alpha3beta1 integrin.

Animals↗

Obtustatin: a potent selective inhibitor of alpha1beta1 integrin in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo.

A novel disintegrin, obtustatin, was purified from the venom of the Vipera lebetina obtusa viper. Obtustatin is the shortest disintegrin yet described, containing only 41 amino acids. It contains a similar pattern of cysteines to the short disintegrins echistatin and eristostatin but contains the sequence KTS rather than RGD in its active site loop. Obtustatin is a potent and selective inhibitor of alpha1beta1 integrin. It does not inhibit the closely related integrin alpha2beta1, nor a panel of other integrins tested. It does not inhibit ligand binding to the recombinant alpha1 I-domain. Importantly, obtustatin potently inhibited angiogenesis in vivo in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay, and in the Lewis lung syngeneic mouse model, it reduced tumor development by half, confirming and extending previous results on the relevance of alpha1beta1 integrin to angiogenesis and suggesting novel approaches to the generation of angiogenesis inhibitors.

Allantois↗

Overexpression of laminin alpha1 chain in colonic cancer cells induces an increase in tumor growth.

Laminins represent a growing family of glycoproteins constituting the basement membrane. They are known to direct many biological processes. With respect to carcinogenesis, laminins play an important role in cell adhesion, mitogenesis, differentiation and even metastasis. To further study the biological significance of laminin-1 (composed of alpha1, beta1 and gamma1 chains) in intestinal cell differentiation or tumorigenesis, an alpha1-laminin expression vector was introduced into the HT29 colonic cancer cells, in which laminin alpha1 chain is not expressed. Upon transfection of the alpha1 chain, the alpha1beta1gamma1 trimer was found secreted in the media along with free alpha1 chain as assessed by immunoprecipitation. The presence of the laminin alpha1 chain did not significantly modify the levels of the other laminin chains nor the integrins expressed by the HT29 cells. In spite of similar growth properties with the control cells in vitro (plastic dish, soft agar), the laminin alpha1 transfectants showed a significantly increased tumor growth when injected in nude mice. Histologic and immunohistochemic examination of the laminin alpha1-expressing tumors points to an increased recruitment of the host stromal and vascular cells, without modification in the differentiation profile and invasion potential. In parallel, a clear accumulation of laminin-10 (alpha5beta1gamma1) at the carcinoma/stromal interface and a segregation of the integrin beta4 subunit at the basal pole of the cancer cells occurred, compared to control tumors. Overall, our observations emphasize the importance of laminin-1 as a chemoattractant of both stromal and vascular cells and in epithelial/stromal cell interactions for the organization of the basement membrane and segregation of integrins leading to an epithelial cell growth signal. Such a sequence of events is reminiscent of what occurs during development.

Animals↗

Integrin dependence of brain natriuretic peptide gene promoter activation by mechanical strain.

Expression of the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) gene in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes is activated by mechanical strain in vitro. We explored the role of cell-matrix contacts in initiating the strain-dependent increment in human BNP (hBNP) promoter activity. Coating the culture surface with fibronectin effected a dose-dependent increase in basal hBNP luciferase activity and amplification of the response to strain. Preincubation of myocytes with an RGD peptide (GRGDSP) or with soluble fibronectin, each of which would be predicted to compete for cell-matrix interactions, resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in strain-dependent hBNP promoter activity. A functionally inert RGE peptide (GRGESP) was without effect. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, we demonstrated the presence of beta(1), beta(3), and alpha(v)beta(5) integrins in myocytes as well as non-myocytes and alpha1 only in non-myocytes in our cultures. Inclusion of antibodies directed against beta(1), beta(3), or alpha(v)beta(5), but not alpha(1), alpha(2), or cadherin, was effective in blocking the BNP promoter response to mechanical strain. These same antibodies (anti-beta(3), -beta(1), and -alpha(v)beta(5)) had a similar inhibitory effect on strain-stimulated ERK, p38 MAPK, and, to a lesser extent, JNK activities in these cells. Cotransfection with chimeric integrin receptors capable of acting as dominant-negative inhibitors of integrin function demonstrated suppression of strain-dependent BNP promoter activity when vectors encoding beta(1) or beta(3), but not beta(5), alpha(5), or a carboxyl-terminal deletion mutant of beta(3) (beta(3)B), were employed. These studies underscore the importance of cell-matrix interactions in controlling cardiac gene expression and suggest a potentially important role for these interactions in signaling responses to mechanical stimuli within the myocardium.

Animals↗

The metal-ion-dependent adhesion site in the Von Willebrand factor-A domain of alpha2delta subunits is key to trafficking voltage-gated Ca2+ channels.

All auxiliary alpha2delta subunits of voltage-gated Ca2+ (Ca(V)) channels contain an extracellular Von Willebrand factor-A (VWA) domain that, in alpha2delta-1 and -2, has a perfect metal-ion-dependent adhesion site (MIDAS). Modeling of the alpha2delta-2 VWA domain shows it to be highly likely to bind a divalent cation. Mutating the three key MIDAS residues responsible for divalent cation binding resulted in a MIDAS mutant alpha2delta-2 subunit that was still processed and trafficked normally when it was expressed alone. However, unlike WT alpha2delta-2, the MIDAS mutant alpha2delta-2 subunit did not enhance and, in some cases, further diminished Ca(V)1.2, -2.1, and -2.2 currents coexpressed with beta1b by using either Ba2+ or Na+ as a permeant ion. Furthermore, expression of the MIDAS mutant alpha2delta-2 reduced surface expression and strongly increased the perinuclear retention of Ca(V)alpha1 subunits at the earliest time at which expression was observed in both Cos-7 and NG108-15 cells. Despite the presence of endogenous alpha2delta subunits, heterologous expression of alpha2delta-2 in differentiated NG108-15 cells further enhanced the endogenous high-threshold Ca2+ currents, whereas this enhancement was prevented by the MIDAS mutations. Our results indicate that alpha2delta subunits normally interact with the Ca(V)alpha1 subunit early in their maturation, before the appearance of functional plasma membrane channels, and an intact MIDAS motif in the alpha2delta subunit is required to promote trafficking of the alpha1 subunit to the plasma membrane by an integrin-like switch. This finding provides evidence for a primary role of a VWA domain in intracellular trafficking of a multimeric complex, in contrast to the more usual roles in binding extracellular ligands in other exofacial VWA domains.

Binding Sites↗

Developmental regulation of beta1 integrins during angiogenesis in the central nervous system.

We examined beta1 integrin expression during angiogenesis in the developing mouse CNS. Maturation of blood vessels was accompanied by three main events: (1) marked upregulation of beta1 integrin expression; (2) a switch in beta1 integrin expression, from alpha4 and alpha5 at postnatal day 1 to alpha1 and alpha6 in the adult; and (3) downregulation of fibronectin and upregulation of laminin expression. Thus, blood vessel maturation was associated with a developmental switch, from fibronectin-mediated signaling early in angiogenesis, to laminin-mediated signaling at later stages. To investigate the potential role of alpha4 and alpha5 integrins in angiogenesis, we developed a novel approach to purify endothelial cells from the CNS by selective adhesion to fibronectin. BrdU incorporation showed that fibronectin induced more endothelial cell proliferation than laminin, and antibody-blocking studies revealed that fibronectin mediated its effect via both alpha4 and alpha5 integrins. This work provides the first evidence that there is a developmental switch in the use of beta1 integrins during angiogenesis. Furthermore, it suggests that regulation of beta1 integrin and ECM expression by endothelial cells are important factors influencing vascular development in the CNS.

Aging↗

Differential pattern of integrin receptor expression in differentiated and anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines.

Adhesion of tumor cells to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a crucial step for the development of metastatic disease and is mediated by specific integrin receptor molecules (IRM). The pattern of metastatic spread differs substantially among the various histotypes of thyroid cancer (TC). However, IRM have only occasionally been characterized in TC until now. IRM expression was investigated in 10 differentiated (FTC133, 236, 238, HTC, HTC TSHr, XTC, PTC4.0/4.2, TPC1, Kat5) and two anaplastic TC cell lines (ATC, C643, Hth74), primary cultures of normal thyroid tissue (Thy1,3), and thyroid cancer specimens (TCS). Expression of 16 IRM (beta1-4, beta7, alpha1-6, alphaV, alphaIIb, alphaL, alphaM, alphaX) and of four IRM heterodimers (alpha2beta1, alpha5beta1, alphaVbeta3, alphaVbeta5), was analyzed by fluorescent-activated cell sorter (FACS) and immunohistochemical staining. Thyroid tumor cell adhesion to ECM proteins and their IRM expression in response to thyrotropin (TSH) was assessed. Follicular TC cell lines presented high levels of integrins alpha2, alpha3, alpha5, beta1, beta3 and low levels of alpha1, whereas papillary lines expressed a heterogenous pattern of IRM, dominated by alpha5 and beta1. ATC mainly displayed integrins alpha2, alpha3, alpha5, alpha6, beta1 and low levels of alpha1, alpha4 and alphaV. Integrin heterodimers correlated with monomer expression. Evaluation of TCS largely confirmed these results with few exceptions, namely alpha4, alpha6, and beta3. The ability of TC cell lines to adhere to purified ECM proteins correlated with IRM expression. TSH induced TC cell adhesion in a dose-dependent fashion, despite an unchanged array of IRM expression or level of a particular IRM. Thyroid carcinoma cell lines of different histogenetic background display profoundly different patterns of IRM expression that appear to correlate with tumor aggressiveness. In vitro adhesion to ECM proteins and IRM expression concur. Finally, TSH-stimulated adhesion of thyroid tumor cell lines to ECM may not be associated with altered IRM expression.

Carcinoma↗