Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Integrin alpha 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 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources

Specific induction of cell motility on laminin by alpha 7 integrin.

Laminin, the major glycoprotein of basement membranes, actively supports cell migration in development, tissue repair, tumor growth, metastasis, and other pathological processes. Previously we have shown that the locomotion of murine skeletal myoblasts is specifically and significantly enhanced on laminin but not on other matrix proteins. One of the major laminin receptors of myoblasts is the alpha 7 beta 1 integrin, which was first described in human MeWo melanoma cells and Rugli glioblastoma cells. In order to investigate and directly test the role of the alpha 7 integrin in cell migration on laminin, we expressed the murine alpha 7B splice variant in human 293 kidney cells and 530 melanoma cells which cannot migrate on laminin and are devoid of endogenous alpha 7. Northern blotting of the transfected cells showed that the alpha 7 mRNA was expressed efficiently, and the protein was detected on the cell surface by immunofluorescence and fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. Cell motility measurements by computer-assisted time-lapse videomicroscopy of the alpha 7-transfected cells revealed an 8-10-fold increase in motility on laminin-1 and its E8 fragment, but not on fibronectin. Mock-transfected cells did not migrate significantly of alpha 7-transfected 293 cells through laminin-coated filters in a Boyden chamber assay was significantly enhanced in comparison to mock transfected cells. These findings prove that alpha 7 integrin expression confers a gain of function-motile phenotype to immobile cells and may be responsible for transduction of the laminin-induced cell motility.

Animals↗

Activation of c-Raf-1 kinase signal transduction pathway in alpha(7) integrin-deficient mice.

Integrin alpha(7)-deficient mice develop a novel form of muscular dystrophy. Here we report that deficiency of alpha(7) integrin causes an activation of the c-Raf-1/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) 2 kinase signal transduction pathway in muscle cells. The observed activation of c-Raf-1/MAP2 kinases is a specific effect, because the alpha(7) integrin deficiency does not cause unspecific stress as determined by measurement of the Hsp72/73 level and activity of the JNK2 kinase. Because an increased level of activated FAK was found in muscle of alpha(7) integrin-deficient mice, the activation of c-Raf-1 kinase is triggered most likely by an integrin-dependent pathway. In accordance with this, in the integrin alpha(7)-deficient mice, part of the integrin beta(1D) variant in muscle is replaced by the beta(1A) variant, which permits the FAK activation. A recent report describes that integrin activity can be down-modulated by the c-Raf-1/MAP2 kinase pathway. Specific activation of the c-Raf-1/MAP2 kinases by cell-permeable peptides in skeletal muscle of rabbits causes degeneration of muscle fibers. Therefore, we conclude that in alpha(7) integrin-deficient mice, the continuous activation of c-Raf-1 kinase causes a permanent reduction of integrin activity diminishing integrin-dependent cell-matrix interactions and thereby contributing to the development of the dystrophic phenotype.

Animals↗

The integrin alpha 7 cytoplasmic domain regulates cell migration, lamellipodia formation, and p130CAS/Crk coupling.

The integrin alpha(7)beta(1) is the major laminin-binding integrin in skeletal, heart, and smooth muscle and is a receptor for laminin-1 and -2. It mediates myoblast migration on laminin-1 and -2 and thus might be involved in muscle development and repair. Previously we have shown that alpha(7)B as well as the alpha(7)A and -C splice variants induce cell motility on laminin when transfected into nonmotile HEK293 cells. In this study we have investigated the role of the cytoplasmic domain of alpha(7) in the laminin-induced signal transduction of alpha(7)beta(1) integrin regulating cell adhesion and migration. Deletion of the cytoplasmic domain did not affect assembly of the mutated alpha(7)Deltacyt/beta(1) heterodimer on the cell surface or adhesion of alpha(7)Deltacyt-transfected cells to laminin. The motility of these cells on the laminin-1/E8 fragment, however, was significantly reduced to the level of mock-transfected cells; lamellipodia formation and polarization of the cells were also impaired. Adhesion to the laminin-1/E8 fragment induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the focal adhesion kinase, paxillin, and p130(CAS) as well as the formation of a p130(CAS)-Crk complex in wild-type alpha(7)B-transfected cells. In alpha(7)BDeltacyt cells, however, the extent of p130(CAS) tyrosine formation was reduced and formation of the p130(CAS)-Crk complex was impaired, with unaltered levels of p130(CAS) and Crk protein levels. These findings indicate adhesion-dependent regulation of p130(CAS)/Crk complex formation by the cytoplasmic domain of alpha(7)B integrin after cell adhesion to laminin-1/E8 and imply alpha(7)B-controlled lamellipodia formation and cell migration through the p130(CAS)/Crk protein complex.

Antigens, CD↗

Dystroglycan is not required for localization of dystrophin, syntrophin, and neuronal nitric-oxide synthase at the sarcolemma but regulates integrin alpha 7B expression and caveolin-3 distribution.

Dystroglycan is part of the dystrophin-associated protein complex, which joins laminin in the extracellular matrix to dystrophin within the subsarcolemmal cytoskeleton. We have investigated how mutations in the components of the laminin-dystroglycan-dystrophin axis affect the organization and expression of dystrophin-associated proteins by comparing mice mutant for merosin (alpha(2)-laminin, dy), dystrophin (mdx), and dystroglycan (Dag1) using immunohistochemistry and immunoblots. We report that syntrophin and neuronal nitric-oxide synthase are depleted in muscle fibers lacking both dystrophin and dystroglycan. Some fibers deficient in dystroglycan, however, localize dystrophin at the cell surface at levels similar to that in wild-type muscle. Nevertheless, these fibers have signs of degeneration/regeneration including increased cell surface permeability and central nuclei. In these fibers, syntrophin and nitric-oxide synthase are also localized to the plasma membrane, whereas the sarcoglycan complex is disrupted. These results suggest a mechanism of membrane attachment for dystrophin independent of dystroglycan and that the interaction of sarcoglycans with dystrophin requires dystroglycan. The distribution of caveolin-3, a muscle-specific component of caveolae recently found to bind dystroglycan, was affected in dystroglycan- and dystrophin-deficient mice. We also examined alternative mechanisms of cell-extracellular matrix attachment to elucidate how the muscle basement membrane may subsist in the absence of dystroglycan, and we found the alpha(7B) splice variant of the alpha(7) integrin receptor subunit to be up-regulated. These results support the possibility that alpha(7B) integrin compensates in mediating cell-extracellular matrix attachment but cannot rescue the dystrophic phenotype.

Alternative Splicing↗

Regulation of alpha7 integrin expression during muscle differentiation.

Expression of the laminin-binding alpha7 integrin is tightly regulated during myogenic differentiation, reflecting required functions that range from cell motility to formation of stable myotendinous junctions. However, the exact mechanism controlling alpha7 expression in a tissue- and differentiation-specific manner is poorly understood. This report provides evidence that alpha7 gene expression during muscle differentiation is regulated by the c-Myc transcription factor. In myoblasts, alpha7 is expressed at basal levels, but following conversion to myotubes the expression of the integrin is strongly elevated. The increased alpha7 mRNA and protein levels following myogenic differentiation are inversely correlated with c-Myc expression. Transfection of myoblasts with the c-Myc transcription factor down-regulated alpha7 expression, whereas overexpression of Madmyc, a dominant-negative c-Myc chimera, induced elevated alpha7 expression. Functional analysis with site-specific deletions identified a specific double E-box sequence in the upstream promoter region (-2.0 to -2.6 kb) that is responsible for c-Myc-induced suppression of alpha7 expression. DNA-protein binding assays and supershift analysis revealed that c-Myc forms a complex with this double E-box sequence. Our results suggest that the interaction of c-Myc with this promoter region is an important regulatory element controlling alpha7 integrin expression during muscle development and myotendinous junction formation.

Animals↗

The leukocyte integrin gene CD11d is repressed by gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor 4 in myeloid cells.

The myeloid-specific leukocyte integrin CD11d encodes the alphaD subunit for the alphaDbeta2 receptor. A yeast one-hybrid screen showed that a longer isoform of gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor 4 (GKLF) we term GKLFa interacts with the CD11d promoter. Purified GST-GKLFa protein was shown to bind within the -61 to -44 region that overlaps a binding site for the CD11d transcriptional activators Sp1 and transforming growth factor beta-inducible early gene-1 (TIEG1). Transfection of GKLF/GKLFa in myeloid cells reduced CD11d promoter activity, whereas, down-regulation of GKLF/GKLFa with small interfering RNAs led to up-regulation of CD11d expression. Differentiation of myeloid cells with phorbol ester led to activation of the CD11d promoter and reduced occupancy of the promoter by GKLF/GKLFa but an increased occupancy by TIEG1 in vivo. Binding of GKLF/GKLFa, Sp1, and TIEG1 to the CD11d promoter in vivo is dependent on their zinc finger DNA binding domains. GKLFa physically associates with the histone deacetylases (HDAC) 1 and 2, and both HDACs are bound to the CD11d promoter in vivo but released after exposure of myeloid cells to phorbol ester suggesting that GKLF/GKLFa recruits HDACs to effect repression.

Animals↗

Expression patterns of beta1-related alpha integrin subunits in murine lens during embryonic development and wound healing.

PURPOSE: To study the expression patterns of b1-related alpha integrin subunits in murine lens epithelial cells, comparing embryonic fiber differentiation with injury-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). METHODS: Adult mice type C57BL/6, pregnant as well as with an eye injured, were sacrificed at different time-course intervals. The embryonic and the injured eyes were obtained and deparaffinized sections of these eyes were processed for immunohistochemistry staining for detection of integrin a subunits. RESULTS: Embryonic lens epithelial cells expressed primarily a3 and a5 subunits, whereas embryonic fiber cells expressed a2, a5, and a6 subunits. Adult lens epithelial cells expressed a3, and a6 subunits,whereas injured lens cells expressed a2, a3, and a6 integrin subunits. CONCLUSIONS: The phenotypic changes of lens epithelial cells during embryonic fiber differentiation and EMT are characterized by different expression of integrin subunits as a result both of the altered extracellular matrix conditions and of the altered cell signaling pathways recruited in each process.

Animals↗

Altered expression of connective tissue genes in postnatal chondroinduced human dermal fibroblasts.

In a novel model for postnatal chondroinduction, normal human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) cultured with demineralized bone powder (DBP) express chondrocyte features after 7 days. Representational difference analysis (RDA) prior to overt chondroblastogenesis (3 days) revealed altered expression of connective tissue genes (collagens, collagen receptors, and post-translational enzymes). Northern or RT-PCR analysis at 3, 7, 14, or 21 d showed different expression patterns for those genes. COL3A1 was transiently upregulated, whereas upregulation of COL11A1, integrin alpha-11, lysyl oxidase, and lysyl hydroxylase 2 mRNAs persisted for 7 days. Downregulation of decorin was sustained for 21 d. The expression of the post-translational enzymes induced by DBP was unique when compared with human skin and human articular chondrocytes. Thus, the data suggest an "induced chondroblast" stage with a unique connective tissue gene expression profile that may result in a matrix supportive of chondrogenesis by postnatal cells.

Aged↗

Are activation markers (CD25, CD38 and CD103) predictive of sensitivity to purine analogues in patients with T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia and other lymphoproliferative disorders?

T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder with distinctive clinical and laboratory features. It is often resistant to conventional chemotherapy, but complete or partial responses have been documented with the use of purine analogues. We report on two cases of T-PLL with a slightly different immunophenotype but a remarkably different response to pentostatin. We discuss the possible therapeutic implications of this finding and establish a comparison between immunophenotype and sensitivity to purine analogues in patients with T-PLL and other chronic lymphoproliferative disorders.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

Spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase specifically binds to the integrin alpha9 subunit cytoplasmic domain and enhances cell migration.

The integrin alpha9beta1 is expressed on migrating cells, such as leukocytes, and binds to multiple ligands that are present at sites of tissue injury and inflammation. alpha9beta1, like the structurally related integrin alpha4beta1, mediates accelerated cell migration, an effect that depends on the alpha9 cytoplasmic domain. alpha4beta1 enhances migration through reversible binding to the adapter protein, paxillin, but alpha9beta1-dependent migration is paxillin independent. Using yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified the polyamine catabolizing enzyme spermidine/spermine N(1)-acetyltransferase (SSAT) as a specific binding partner of the alpha9 cytoplasmic domain. Overexpression of SSAT increased alpha9beta1-mediated migration, and small interfering RNA knockdown of SSAT inhibited this migration without affecting cell adhesion or migration that was mediated by other integrin cytoplasmic domains. The enzyme activity of SSAT is critical for this effect, because a catalytically inactive version did not enhance migration. We conclude that SSAT directly binds to the alpha9 cytoplasmic domain and mediates alpha9-dependent enhancement of cell migration, presumably by localized effects on acetylation of polyamines or of unidentified substrates.

Acetyltransferases↗

Molecules and structures involved in the adhesion of natural killer cells to vascular endothelium.

The present study was designed to define molecules and structures involved in the interaction of natural killer (NK) cells with the vascular endothelium in vitro. Resting and interleukin 2 (IL-2)-activated NK cells were studied for their capacity to adhere to resting and IL-1-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EC). In the absence of stimuli, NK cells showed appreciable adhesion to EC, with levels of binding intermediate between polymorphs and monocytes. The binding ability was increased by pretreatment of NK cells with IL-2. Using the appropriate monoclonal antibody, the beta 2 leukocyte integrin CD18/CD11a was identified as the major adhesion pathway of NK cells to unstimulated EC. Activation of EC with IL-1 increased the binding of NK cells. In addition to the CD18-CD11a/intercellular adhesion molecule pathway, the interaction of resting or IL-2-activated NK cells to IL-1-activated EC involved the VLA-4 (alpha 4 beta 1)-vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 receptor/counter-receptor pair. No evidence for appreciable involvement of endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule was obtained. Often, NK cells interacted either with the culture substrate or with the EC surface via dot-shaped adhesion structures (podosomes) protruding from the ventral surface and consisting of a core of F-actin surrounded by a ring of vinculin and talin. The identification of molecules and microanatomical structures involved in the interaction of NK cells with EC may provide a better understanding of the regulation of NK cell recruitment from blood, their extravasation, and their migration to tissues.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

CD103 expression is required for destruction of pancreatic islet allografts by CD8(+) T cells.

The mechanisms by which CD8 effector populations interact with epithelial layers is a poorly defined aspect of adaptive immunity. Recognition that CD8 effectors have the capacity to express CD103, an integrin directed to the epithelial cell-specific ligand E-cadherin, potentially provides insight into such interactions. To assess the role of CD103 in promoting CD8-mediated destruction of epithelial layers, we herein examined the capacity of mice with targeted disruption of CD103 to reject pancreatic islet allografts. Wild-type hosts uniformly rejected islet allografts, concomitant with the appearance of CD8(+)CD103(+) effectors at the graft site. In contrast, the majority of islet allografts transplanted into CD103(-/-) hosts survived indefinitely. Transfer of wild-type CD8 cells into CD103(-/-) hosts elicited prompt rejection of long-surviving islet allografts, whereas CD103(-/-) CD8 cells were completely ineffectual, demonstrating that the defect resides at the level of the CD8 cell. CD8 cells in CD103(-/-) hosts exhibited normal effector responses to donor alloantigens in vitro and trafficked normally to the graft site, but strikingly failed to infiltrate the islet allograft itself. These data establish a causal relationship between CD8(+)CD103(+) effectors and destruction of graft epithelial elements and suggest that CD103 critically functions to promote intragraft migration of CD8 effectors into epithelial compartments.

Adoptive Transfer↗

Essential role for CD103 in the T cell-mediated regulation of experimental colitis.

The integrin CD103 is highly expressed at mucosal sites, but its role in mucosal immune regulation remains poorly understood. We have analyzed the functional role of CD103 in intestinal immune regulation using the T cell transfer model of colitis. Our results show no mandatory role for CD103 expression on T cells for either the development or CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (T reg) cell-mediated control of colitis. However, wild-type CD4+CD25+ T cells were unable to prevent colitis in immune-deficient recipients lacking CD103, demonstrating a nonredundant functional role for CD103 on host cells in T reg cell-mediated intestinal immune regulation. Non-T cell expression of CD103 is restricted primarily to CD11c(high)MHC class II(high) dendritic cells (DCs). This DC population is present at a high frequency in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue and appears to mediate a distinct functional role. Thus, CD103+ DCs, but not their CD103- counterparts, promoted expression of the gut-homing receptor CCR9 on T cells. Conversely, CD103- DCs promoted the differentiation of IFN-gamma-producing T cells. Collectively, these data suggest that CD103+ and CD103- DCs represent functionally distinct subsets and that CD103 expression on DCs influences the balance between effector and regulatory T cell activity in the intestine.

Animals↗

TGF-{beta}-dependent CD103 expression by CD8(+) T cells promotes selective destruction of the host intestinal epithelium during graft-versus-host disease.

Destruction of the host intestinal epithelium by donor effector T cell populations is a hallmark of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. We demonstrate that CD8(+) T cells expressing CD103, an integrin conferring specificity for the epithelial ligand E-cadherin, play a critical role in this process. A TCR transgenic GVHD model was used to demonstrate that CD103 is selectively expressed by host-specific CD8(+) T cell effector populations (CD8 effectors) that accumulate in the host intestinal epithelium during GVHD. Although host-specific CD8 effectors infiltrated a wide range of host compartments, only those infiltrating the intestinal epithelium expressed CD103. Host-specific CD8 effectors expressing a TGF-beta dominant negative type II receptor were defective in CD103 expression on entry into the intestinal epithelium, which indicates local TGF-beta activity as a critical regulating factor. Host-specific CD8 effectors deficient in CD103 expression successfully migrated into the host intestinal epithelium but were retained at this site much less efficiently than wild-type host-specific CD8 effectors. The relevance of these events to GVHD pathogenesis is supported by the finding that CD103-deficient CD8(+) T cells were strikingly defective in transferring intestinal GVHD pathology and mortality. Collectively, these data document a pivotal role for TGF-beta-dependent CD103 expression in dictating the gut tropism, and hence the destructive potential, of CD8(+) T cells during GVHD pathogenesis.

Animals↗

Calreticulin couples calcium release and calcium influx in integrin-mediated calcium signaling.

The engagement of integrin alpha7 in E63 skeletal muscle cells by laminin or anti-alpha7 antibodies triggered transient elevations in the intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration that resulted from both inositol triphosphate-evoked Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores and extracellular Ca(2+) influx through voltage-gated, L-type Ca(2+) channels. The extracellular domain of integrin alpha7 was found to associate with both ectocalreticulin and dihydropyridine receptor on the cell surface. Calreticulin appears to also associate with cytoplasmic domain of integrin alpha7 in a manner highly dependent on the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration. It appeared that intracellular Ca(2+) release was a prerequisite for Ca(2+) influx and that calreticulin associated with the integrin cytoplasmic domain mediated the coupling of between the Ca(2+) release and Ca(2+) influx. These findings suggest that calreticulin serves as a cytosolic activator of integrin and a signal transducer between integrins and Ca(2+) channels on the cell surface.

Animals↗

Compensation for dystrophin-deficiency: ADAM12 overexpression in skeletal muscle results in increased alpha 7 integrin, utrophin and associated glycoproteins.

Mouse models for genetic diseases are among the most powerful tools available for developing and testing new treatment strategies. ADAM12 is a disintegrin and metalloprotease, previously demonstrated to significantly alleviate the pathology of mdx mice, a model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy in humans. More specifically ADAM12 appeared to prevent muscle cell necrosis in the mdx mice as evidenced by morphological analysis and by the reduced levels of serum creatine kinase. In the present study we demonstrated that ADAM12 may compensate for the dystrophin deficiency in mdx mice by increasing the expression and redistribution of several components of the muscle cell-adhesion complexes. First, we analyzed transgenic mice that overexpress ADAM12 and found mild myopathic changes and accelerated regeneration following acute injury. We then analyzed changes in gene-expression profiles in mdx/ADAM12 transgenic mice compared with their littermate controls and found only a few genes with an expression change greater than 2-fold between mdx/ADAM12 and mdx. The small changes in gene expression were unexpected, considering the marked improvement of the mdx pathology when ADAM12 is overexpressed, and suggested that significant changes in mdx/ADAM12 muscle might occur post-transcriptionally. Indeed, by immunostaining and immunoblotting we found an approximately 2-fold increase in expression, and distinct extrasynaptic localization, of alpha 7B integrin and utrophin, the functional homolog of dystrophin. The expression of the dystrophin-associated glycoproteins was also increased. In conclusion, these results demonstrate a novel way to alleviate dystrophin deficiency in mice, and may stimulate the development of new approaches to compensate for dystrophin deficiency in animals and humans.

ADAM Proteins↗