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Asp-698 and Asp-811 of the integrin alpha4-subunit are critical for the formation of a functional heterodimer.

The amino acid motif LDV is the principal binding site for alpha4 integrins in fibronectin, and homologous motifs are recognized in vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and MAdCAM-1. Three conserved LDV motifs (LDV-1 to 3) occur in the ectodomain of the human and mouse alpha4-subunit, the functions of which are unknown. We demonstrate here that alpha4-transfected fibroblasts with mutation in LDV-1 (D489N) behaved like alpha4-wild type but that LDV-2 (D698N) and LDV-3 (D811N) mutants were impaired in binding and spreading on alpha4-specific substrates. On the RGD-containing fibronectin fragment FN-120 there was an inverse behavior; now the alpha4-wild type and the LDV-1 mutant could not adhere whereas the two other mutants could. The beta1 chain was critical for the differential integrin response. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that the LDV-2 and -3 mutations reduced the strength of the alpha4beta1 association, favored the formation of alpha5beta1, and prevented the expression of alpha4beta7 on the cell surface. Our results indicate that LDV-2 and LDV-3 are critical for the formation of a functional heterodimer. The presence of similar amino acid motifs in ligands and the alpha4-subunit suggest that metal coordination plays an important role in integrin-ligand binding as well as for heterodimer formation.

3T3 Cells↗

Fibronectin enhances the migration rate of human neutrophils in vitro.

Efficient polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) migration depends on specific interactions between PMNs, endothelial cells, and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. We investigated the relationship between PMN migration and the ECM molecule fibronectin (FN). We used an in vitro migration assay system to show that human PMNs migrated across an FN-coated filter barrier toward a formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) chemoattractant gradient in greater numbers than across (uncoated) bare fitters. In 1 h of fMLP stimulation, 69 +/- 6% of the PMNs had migrated across the FN-coated filters, whereas 46 +/- 5% of PMNs migrated across bare filters. This effect was specific to FN; coating the filters with the ECM protein vitronectin did not enhance migration. Monoclonal antibodies against FN or against the alpha5 or beta1 integrin subunits of the FN receptor inhibited the enhanced PMN migration response across FN-coated filters. These findings indicate that the extracellular matrix protein FN enhances PMN migration and that this response is mediated by the alpha5beta1 FN receptor.

Antibodies↗

Expression of alpha5 (CD49e) and alpha6 (CD49f) integrin subunits on T cells in the circulation and the lamina propria of normal and inflammatory bowel disease colonic mucosa.

Intestinal lamina propria T cells are believed to be derived, via the systemic circulation, from gut-associated lymphoid tissue. After migration into the lamina propria, T cells are capable of luminally directed migration following the loss of surface epithelial cells. For adhesion and migration within the extracellular matrix, T cells are likely to utilize the integrin family of adhesion molecules. The aim of this study was to quantitatively and qualitatively investigate the expression of alpha5 and alpha6 integrin subunits on the surface of human T cells that: (a) migrated out of the lamina propria, (b) remained resident within the matrix and (c) were present in the circulation. In both subpopulations of CD4 and CD8-positive T cells, from both normal and inflamed (inflammatory bowel disease) colonic mucosa, there were significantly fewer alpha5 and alpha6-positive cells than in the peripheral blood. In addition, there were significantly fewer alpha6 integrin molecules on the surface of CD4 and CD8-positive lamina propria T-cell subpopulations, compared with those in the circulation. Our studies suggest that, following migration into the lamina propria, there is down-regulation of alpha5 and alpha6 integrin-subunit expression on the surface of T cells. Molecules other than members of very late activation antigen-5 (VLA-5) (alpha5beta1) and VLA-6 (alpha6beta1) families of adhesion molecules are likely to be important in interactions with extracellular components in the lamina propria of normal and inflamed human colonic mucosa.

Antigens, CD↗

Rhodostomin inhibits thrombin-enhanced adhesion of ROS 17/2.8 cells through the blockade of alphavbeta3 integrin.

Osteosarcoma is a very malignant bone tumor which has a high metastatic potential and usually lead to poor prognosis. The adhesion of tumor cells to the endothelium or extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential step in the metastatic cascade. We investigated the effect of thrombin on the adhesion activity of the osteosarcoma cell line, ROS 17/2.8. Incubation with the low concentrations of thrombin (0.01-5 U/ml, 5 min to 24 h) elevated the adhesion activity of ROS 17/2.8 to both human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and extracellular matrix, with the peak effect at the concentration of 0.5 U/ml for 30 min at 37 degrees C. The ROS 17/2.8 cells responded to thrombin by a peak effect of increased adhesion to HUVEC (5.5 folds vs. control) and fibronectin (4.8 folds) after thrombin pretreatment (0.5 U/ml, 30 min, 37 degrees C). Pretreatment with monoclonal antibodies against beta3 integrins, including anti-alphavbeta3, 10E5 and 7E3, effectively antagonized the thrombin-enhanced cell adhesion activity, whereas anti-alpha3beta1 and anti-alpha5beta1 did not antagonize the enhanced cell adhesion. Rhodostomin, an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing snake venom peptide, and synthetic peptide RGDS also blocked the thrombin-enhanced ROS 17/2.8 cell adhesion. This study demonstrated that thrombin enhanced the cell adhesion of ROS 17/2.8 cells to HUVEC or ECM through an upregulation of beta3 integrins, and rhodostomin was a strong inhibitor on thrombin-enhanced cell adhesion, either to HUVEC or fibronectin substratum.

Animals↗

Rac2 specificity in macrophage integrin signaling: potential role for Syk kinase.

Herein we report that, despite the similarity of Rac2 to Rac1 (92% amino acid identity), macrophages derived from Rac2-/- mice, which continue to express Rac1, display a marked defect in alphavbeta3/alphavbeta5 and alpha4beta1 integrin-directed migration measured on vitronectin and fibronectin fragments (FN-H296), respectively. In contrast, mouse embryo fibroblasts derived from the Rac2 knockout mice utilize Rac1 for migration via alphavbeta3/alphavbeta5 and alpha4beta1. The genetic reconstitution of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) with Rac2 restores the integrin-dependent migration of Rac2-deficient macrophages on vitronectin (VN) and FN-H296. The levels of GTP-Rac2 generated upon specific integrin engagement in wild type macrophages parallels the phenotypic defect observed in Rac2-deficient macrophages; i.e. FN-H296, alpha4beta1 > VN, alphavbeta3/alphavbeta5 > FN-CH271, alpha5beta1 > intact FN. In a COS7 cell system, the expression of Syk kinase alone is sufficient to convert the alpha4beta1 migration response to Rac2 dependence. Therefore, we present the first evidence that the alpha4beta1 receptor in blood cells has evolved a Syk-Rac2 signaling axis to transmit signals required for integrin-directed migration suggesting that Syk kinase in part encodes myeloid Rac2 specificity in vivo.

Animals↗

Fibronectin and alpha5 integrin regulate keratinocyte cell cycling. A mechanism for increased fibronectin potentiation of T cell lymphokine-driven keratinocyte hyperproliferation in psoriasis.

In addition to being T lymphocyte-driven, psoriasis may be due in part to abnormal integrin expression. Normal-appearing (uninvolved) skin from psoriatic patients was examined to determine whether altered fibronectin or its receptor expression is detectable before development of psoriatic lesions. In contrast to skin from normal subjects, we detect by immunofluorescence the abnormal presence of plasma fibronectin in the basal cell layer of the epidermis of psoriatic uninvolved skin. Furthermore, increased fibronectin exposure superinduces the in vitro cell cycle induction and expansion of psoriatic nonlesional keratinocytes in response to a cocktail of T cell lymphokines. Fibronectin alone also appeared to increase cell cycle entry among uninvolved but not normal keratinocytes. Concordantly, the alpha5 integrin fibronectin receptor, but not alpha2 or alpha3, is overexpressed in the in vivo nonlesional psoriatic epidermis. The involvement of alpha5beta1 in the early outgrowth of clonogenic keratinocytes in the ex vivo culture was demonstrated by the ability of anti-alpha5 mAb to inhibit keratinocyte growth on fibronectin. Thus, the fibronectin receptor appears to be one of the components required for the development of the hyperresponsiveness of psoriatic keratinocytes to signals for proliferation provided by lymphokines produced by intralesional T lymphocytes in psoriasis.

Antigens, CD↗

Oral antiplatelet efficacy and specificity of a novel nonpeptide platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor antagonist, DMP 802.

This study was undertaken to define the platelet glycoprotein alphaIIb beta3 integrin (GPII/IIIa) affinity, specificity, and oral antiplatelet efficacy of DMP 802, a small-molecule nonpeptide antiplatelet agent. Platelet GPIIb/IIIa integrin binding affinity and specificity for DMP 802 were determined by using binding and adhesion assays with cells from various species, including human. DMP 802 demonstrated a potent antiplatelet efficacy [median inhibitory concentration (IC50), 0.029 +/- 0.0042 microM] in inhibiting human platelet aggregation induced by 10 microM adenosine diphosphate (ADP), as assessed by light-transmittance aggregometry. DMP 802 inhibited 125I-fibrinogen binding to activated (ADP, epinephrine, and arachidonic acid at 100 microM each) gel purified human platelets with an IC50 of 0.012 +/- 0.003 microM. DMP 802 demonstrated tight association with unactivated human, baboon, or canine platelets (t(1/2) of dissociation, 32 +/- 2, 32 +/- 13, and 11 +/- 1 min, respectively). DMP 802 binds with high affinity to both unactivated and activated human platelets (Kd = 0.61 +/- 0.17, 0.57 +/- 0.21 nM, respectively). DMP 802 demonstrated species specificity in inhibiting platelet aggregation with IC50 values ranging from 0.025 to 0.092 microM (human, guinea pig, dog, swine, hamster) and 0.88-1.0 microM (rabbit and rat) in platelets obtained from these various species. DMP 802 demonstrated a high degree of specificity for platelet GPIIb/IIIa (alphaIIb/beta3) as compared with other integrins including alpha(v)beta3 (IC50, >10 microM), alpha(v)beta5 (IC50, >100 microM), alpha4beta1 (IC50, >100 microM), and alpha5beta1 (IC50, >10 microM). Oral antiplatelet efficacy of DMP 802 was examined after single oral (0.05-0.20 mg/kg) and after repeated oral dosing at 0.05 mg/kg daily for 5 days in mongrel dogs. Dose-dependent antiplatelet efficacy with an extended duration of antiplatelet efficacy was demonstrated based on ex vivo inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by 100 microM ADP. DMP 802 has an oral bioavailability of 14.9% in dogs. In conclusion, the alpha sulfonamide isoxazoline analog, DMP 802, is a novel oral antiplatelet agent with high affinity, relatively slow dissociation rate and specificity for human platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptors.

Administration, Oral↗

During human thymic development, beta 1 integrins regulate adhesion, motility, and the outcome of RHAMM/hyaluronan engagement.

During human thymic differentiation, interactions between fibronectin (Fn)/beta1 integrins and hyaluronan (HA)/RHAMM control motility and Fn/beta1 integrins mediate spontaneous Fn-dependent adhesion. Multinegative (MN, CD3-4-8-) thymocytes exhibit strong spontaneous adherence to Fn (75%) that was efficiently inhibited by anti-alpha5beta1 and only weakly inhibited by anti-alpha4beta1. The relatively weak adherence of unfractionated thymocytes to Fn required both alpha4beta1 and alpha5beta1. Video time-lapse microscopy indicates that a subset of thymocytes also undergo spontaneous Fn-dependent motility mediated by alpha5beta1, alpha4beta1, and the HA-receptor RHAMM, but not by CD44. The loss of motility after hyaluronidase treatment of thymocytes indicated that motility is strongly dependent on HA. Of motile cells, 55% were DP, 19% were DN, and 24% were CD4+SP, but only 1% were CD8+SP. Overall, for MN thymocytes, beta1 integrin mediated Fn-adhesion, but after expression of CD4/CD8, beta1 integrins mediated Fn-dependent motility. Treatment with the activating anti-beta1 mAb QE.2E5 inhibited thymic motility and converted otherwise nonadherent thymocytes to an adherent state. High-avidity interactions via integrins appear to supercede the motogenicity of RHAMM and HA, suggesting that integrin avidity may regulate RHAMM. During thymic development, changes in adhesion or motility appear to be mediated by integrin avidity modulation.

Adult↗

L1 makes immunological progress by expanding its relations.

The cell-adhesion molecule L1 was originally described in the nervous system. It has recently been detected in CD4+ T lymphocytes, peripheral B lymphocytes, and granulocytes in the human immune system and in similar leucocyte types in the murine immune system. L1 mediates neural recognition by Ca+2, Mg+2-independent homophilic binding. In the human and murine immune systems, L1 binds to the "classical" vitronectin receptor, alphaVbeta3, and fibronectin receptor, alpha5beta1, respectively, and abstains from homophilic binding. Homophilic L1 binding probably involves antiparallel alignment of several interactive domains. Integrin binding is mediated by a short segment of immunoglobulinlike domain 6, which includes two RGD repeats in rodent L1 and one RGD motif in human L1. L1 is modulated in activated leucocytes in vitro in parallel to L-selectin, and diverse cell types release intact L1 in vivo and in vitro. Released L1 can bind to laminin and adheres to the extracellular matrix of sciatic nerve, M21 melanoma, and possibly spleen and other tissues. It can support integrin-dependent cell migration and preliminary data implicate it in tumor development and transnodal lymphocyte migration.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Integrin alphavbeta1 is a receptor for foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Infection by field strains of Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is initiated by binding to certain species of arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD)-dependent integrin including alphavbeta3 and the epithelial integrin alphavbeta6. In this report we show that the integrin alphavbeta1, when expressed as a human/hamster heterodimer on transfected CHOB2 cells, is a receptor for FMDV. Virus binding and infection mediated by alphavbeta1 was inefficient in the presence of physiological concentrations of calcium and magnesium but were significantly enhanced by reagents that activate the integrin and promote ligand binding. The ability of chimeric alpha5/alphav integrin subunits, in association with the beta1 chain, to bind FMDV and mediate infection matched the ligand binding specificity of alphavbeta1, not alpha5beta1, thus providing further evidence for the receptor role of alphavbeta1. In addition, data are presented suggesting that amino acid residues near the RGD motif may be important for differentiating between the binding specificities of alphavbeta1 and alphavbeta6.

Animals↗

Integrins control motile strategy through a Rho-cofilin pathway.

During wound healing, angiogenesis, and tumor invasion, cells often change their expression profiles of fibronectin-binding integrins. Here, we show that beta1 integrins promote random migration, whereas beta3 integrins promote persistent migration in the same epithelial cell background. Adhesion to fibronectin by alpha(v)beta3 supports extensive actin cytoskeletal reorganization through the actin-severing protein cofilin, resulting in a single broad lamellipod with static cell-matrix adhesions at the leading edge. Adhesion by alpha5beta1 instead leads to the phosphorylation/inactivation of cofilin, and these cells fail to polarize their cytoskeleton but extend thin protrusions containing highly dynamic cell-matrix adhesions in multiple directions. The activity of the small GTPase RhoA is particularly high in cells adhering by alpha5beta1, and inhibition of Rho signaling causes a switch from a beta1- to a beta3-associated mode of migration, whereas increased Rho activity has the opposite effect. Thus, alterations in integrin expression profiles allow cells to modulate several critical aspects of the motile machinery through Rho GTPases.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Nischarin, a novel protein that interacts with the integrin alpha5 subunit and inhibits cell migration.

Integrins have been implicated in key cellular functions, including cytoskeletal organization, motility, growth, survival, and control of gene expression. The plethora of integrin alpha and beta subunits suggests that individual integrins have unique biological roles, implying specific molecular connections between integrins and intracellular signaling or regulatory pathways. Here, we have used a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify a novel protein, termed Nischarin, that binds preferentially to the cytoplasmic domain of the integrin alpha5 subunit, inhibits cell motility, and alters actin filament organization. Nischarin is primarily a cytosolic protein, but clearly associates with alpha5beta1, as demonstrated by coimmunoprecipitation. Overexpression of Nischarin markedly reduces alpha5beta1-dependent cell migration in several cell types. Rat embryo fibroblasts transfected with Nischarin constructs have "basket-like" networks of peripheral actin filaments, rather than typical stress fibers. These observations suggest that Nischarin might affect signaling to the cytoskeleton regulated by Rho-family GTPases. In support of this, Nischarin expression reverses the effect of Rac on lamellipodia formation and selectively inhibits Rac-mediated activation of the c-fos promoter. Thus, Nischarin may play a negative role in cell migration by antagonizing the actions of Rac on cytoskeletal organization and cell movement.

3T3 Cells↗

The role of the specificity-determining loop of the integrin beta subunit I-like domain in autonomous expression, association with the alpha subunit, and ligand binding.

Integrin beta subunits contain a highly conserved I-like domain that is known to be important for ligand binding. Unlike integrin I domains, the I-like domain requires integrin alpha and beta subunit association for optimal folding. Pactolus is a novel gene product that is highly homologous to integrin beta subunits but lacks associating alpha subunits [Chen, Y., Garrison, S., Weis, J. J., and Weis, J. H. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 8711-8718] and a approximately 30 amino acid segment corresponding to the specificity-determining loop (SDL) in the I-like domain. We find that the SDL is responsible for the defects in integrin beta subunit expression and folding in the absence of alpha subunits. When transfected in the absence of alpha subunits into cells, extracellular domains of mutant beta subunits lacking SDL, but not wild-type beta subunits, were well secreted and contained immunoreactive I-like domains. The purified recombinant soluble beta1 subunit with the SDL deletion showed an elongated shape in electron microscopy, consistent with its structure in alphabeta complexes. The SDL segment is not required for formation of alpha5beta1, alpha4beta1, alphaVbeta3, and alpha6beta4 heterodimers, but is essential for fomation of alpha6beta1, alphaVbeta1, and alphaLbeta2 heterodimers, suggesting that usage of subunit interface residues is variable among integrins. The beta1 SDL is required for ligand binding and for the formation of the epitope for the alpha5 monoclonal antibody 16 that maps to loop segments connecting blades 2 and 3 of beta-propeller domain of alpha5, but is not essential for nearby beta-propeller epitopes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Smooth muscle cell adhesion to tissue engineering scaffolds.

Synthetic polyesters of lactic and glycolic acid, and the extracellular matrix molecule collagen are among the most widely-utilized scaffolding materials in tissue engineering. However, the mechanism of cell adhesion to these tissue engineering scaffolds has not been extensively studied. In this paper, the mechanism of adhesion of smooth muscle cells to these materials was investigated. Vitronectin was found to be the predominant matrix protein adsorbed from serum-containing medium onto polyglycolic acid, poly(lactic co-glycolic) acid, and collagen two-dimensional films and three-dimensional scaffolds. Fibronectin adsorbed to both materials as well, although to a much lower density. Smooth muscle cell adhesion was mediated through specific integrin receptors interacting with these adsorbed proteins, as evidenced by both immunostaining and blocking studies. The receptors involved in adhesion included the alpha(v)beta5 to vitronectin, the alpha5beta1 to fibronectin and the alpha2beta1 to collagen I. Identification of the specific receptors used to adhere to these polymers clarifies why smooth muscle tissue development differs on these scaffolds, and may allow one to design tissue formation by controlling the surface chemistry of tissue engineering scaffolds.

Adsorption↗

Distribution of alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5 integrins and the integrin associated protein--IAP (CD47) in human glomerular diseases.

The alphav integrins present on the membrane of numerous cells, mediate attachment to matrix proteins, cell proliferation, migration and survival. We studied the expression of alphav integrinis and CD47 (a beta3 chain integrin associated protein) in various forms of glomerulonephritis (GN) characterized by mesangial proliferation and/or increased mesangial matrix. In normal glomeruli, epithelial cells expressed alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5 and CD47; endothelial cells expressed alpha5beta1 and CD47; mesangial cells expressed alphavbeta5, CD47, and to a less extent alphavbeta3. In acute post infectious GN (APIGN), membrano-proliferative GN (MPGN) and diabetic nephropathy(DN), we observed that the beta3 chain, normally expressed by mesangial cells, was not detectable in the mesangium while its expression by epithelial cells was not modified. Parallel to the disappearance of alphavbeta3, the CD47 expression was decreased on the mesangial cells in MPGN, APIGN and DN. The expression of alphavbeta5 was clearly increased on podocytes and on proliferating mesangial cells in APIGN. By contrast, the mesangial expression of alphavbeta was normal or decreased in DN. The alpha5 chain of integrin, absent on normal mesangial cell, was expressed on proliferating mesangial cells in MPGN and APIGN. Thus, we observed modifications of alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 expression during human GN. The modulations of alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 expression differed according to the different glomerular cell types and were not parallel in glomerular cells: alphavbeta3 was decreased (and alphavbeta5 unchanged) on proliferating mesangial cells and alphavbeta5 was increased (and alphavbeta3 unchanged) in podocytes. This may reflect the existence of two distinct regulatory pathways.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Modulation of RGD sequence motifs regulates disintegrin recognition of alphaIIb beta3 and alpha5 beta1 integrin complexes. Replacement of elegantin alanine-50 with proline, N-terminal to the RGD sequence, diminishes recognition of the alpha5 beta1 complex with restoration induced by Mn2+ cation.

Several recent studies have demonstrated that the amino acid residues flanking the RGD sequence of high-affinity ligands modulate their specificity of interaction with integrin complexes. The present study has addressed the role of the residues flanking the RGD sequence in regulating the recognition by disintegrin of the alphaIIb beta3 and alpha5beta1 complexes by construction of a panel of recombinant molecules of Elegantin (the platelet aggregation inhibitor from the venom of Trimerasurus elegans) expressing specific RGD sequence motifs. Wild-type Elegantin (ARGDNP) and several variants including Eleg. AM (ARGDMP), Eleg. PM (PRGDMP) and Eleg. PN (PRGDNP) were expressed as glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. The inhibitory efficacies of the panel of Elegantin variants were analysed in platelet adhesion assays with substrates immobilized with fibrinogen and fibronectin. Elegantin molecules containing an Ala residue N-terminal to the RGD sequence (wild-type Elegantin and Eleg. AM) showed strong inhibitory activity towards alphaIIbbeta3-dependent platelet adhesion on fibronectin, whereas a Pro residue in this position (Eleg. PM and Kistrin, the inhibitor from the venom of Calloselasma rhodostoma) engendered lower activity. The decreased activity could not be attributed to a decrease in the affinity of the disintegrin for the alphaIIb beta3 complex because both Eleg. AM and Eleg. PM had similar Kd (app) values. In contrast, Elegantin molecules into which a Met residue was introduced in place of the Asn residue C-terminal to the RGD sequence showed 10-13-fold elevated inhibitory activity towards platelet adhesion on fibrinogen and this was maintained with either a Pro or Ala residue N-terminal to the RGD sequence. In experiments with the alpha5 beta1 complex on K562 cells, the inhibitory efficacies of the panel of Elegantin molecules were analysed under two different cation conditions. First, in the presence of Ca2+/Mg2+, K562 cell adhesion on fibronectin was inhibited equally well by Elegantin and Eleg. AM but inhibited poorly by Eleg. PM and Kistrin. In contrast with platelets, the decreased inhibitory efficacy of the PRGDMP disintegrins was due to poor recognition of the alpha5 beta1 complex. In the presence of Mn2+ cation, K562 cell adhesion on fibrinogen was observed in an alpha5 beta1-dependent manner. Under these conditions both PRGD and ARGD containing disintegrins were strong inhibitors of K562 cell adhesion on fibrinogen and this was due to a markedly improved recognition of the alpha5 beta1 complex by the PRGD molecules. These observations demonstrate the pivotal role of the amino acids flanking the RGD sequence for disintegrin recognition of integrin complexes and highlight the subtle nature by which integrin-ligand binding specificity can be modulated by both cation and adhesive motif.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

EC3, a novel heterodimeric disintegrin from Echis carinatus venom, inhibits alpha4 and alpha5 integrins in an RGD-independent manner.

EC3, a heterodimeric disintegrin (Mr = 14,762) isolated from Echis carinatus venom is a potent antagonist of alpha4 integrins. Two subunits called EC3A and EC3B were isolated from reduced and alkylated EC3 by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Each subunit contained 67 residues, including 10 cysteines, and displayed a high degree of homology to each other and to other disintegrins. EC3 inhibited adhesion of cells expressing alpha4beta1 and alpha4beta7 integrins to natural ligands vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1 (MadCAM-1) with IC50 = 6-30 nM, adhesion of K562 cells (alpha5beta1) to fibronectin with IC50 = 150 nM, and adhesion of alphaIIbbeta3 Chinese hamster ovary cells to fibrinogen with IC50 = 500 nM; it did not inhibit adhesion of alphavbeta3 Chinese hamster ovary cells to vitronectin. Ethylpyridylethylated EC3B inhibited adhesion of Jurkat cells to immobilized VCAM-1 (IC50 = 6 microM), whereas EC3A was inactive in this system. The MLDG motif appeared to be essential for activity of EC3B. Linear MLDG peptide inhibited the adhesion of Jurkat to VCAM-1 in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 4 mM), whereas RGDS peptide was not active at the same concentration. MLDG partially inhibited adhesion of K562 cells to fibronectin (5-10 mM) in contrast to RGDS peptide (IC50 = 3 mM), inhibiting completely at 10 mM.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Immunolocalization of extracellular matrix proteins and integrins in sarcoid lymph nodes.

To improve our understanding of the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and integrins during the processes of granuloma formation in sarcoidosis, we examined the distribution of ECM proteins and the expression of integrins in sarcoid lymph nodes by immunohistochemical methods. We also examined the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), which is one of major regulators for synthesis of ECM proteins. Most ECM proteins were detected in the periphery of the granulomas in a concentric pattern, and fibronectin was diffusely detected from an early to a regressive stage. Compared with normal lymph nodes, most beta1-integrin subfamilies (alpha1, alpha4, alpha5 and alpha6) were more strongly expressed on lymphocytes around the granulomas. Epithelioid cells exhibited strong expression of the alpha5 molecule. Fibroblasts exhibited the expression of the alpha2 and alpha5 molecules surrounding ECM proteins. The alpha5beta1 molecule had a distribution similar to that of fibronectin. TGF-beta1 was detected in epithelioid cells throughout the various evolutional stages and its expression was especially marked in mature granulomas. Interaction of fibronectin and the alpha5beta1 molecule may have an important role in the process of formation of sarcoid granuloma. The expression of TGF-beta1 may be involved in the regression of sarcoid granuloma by initiating fibrosis and atrophy of epithelioid cells.

Extracellular Matrix Proteins↗