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Monoclonal antibody EMR1a/212D recognizing site of deposition of extracellular lipid in atherosclerosis. Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone for the antigen.

We have isolated from a rabbit liver cDNA library, clones coding for the 66-kDa glycoprotein (GP66) characterized previously by EMR1a/212D monoclonal antibody (Nakagami, K., Shimasaki, O., Sato, R., Komine, Y., Ohkuma, S. and Takano, T. (1989) Am. J. Pathol. 135, 93-100), which recognizes the extracellular regions of atherosclerotic arterial wall. The clone spans the sequence coding for the entire GP66 (456 amino acids) and 19 amino acids of signal peptide. GP66 deduced from nucleotide sequence contained an Arg-Gly-Asp cell attachment sequence and had a 76% amino acid sequence homology with human vitronectin. Furthermore, EMR1a/212D recognized rabbit vitronectin purified by heparin-affinity chromatography. RNA blot hybridization detected one transcript of the same size in normal and Watanabe-heritable hyperlipidemic rabbit liver. The levels of plasma GP66 and liver GP66 mRNA were not altered, whereas 9-fold greater accumulation of GP66 was observed in thoracic aorta of Watanabe-heritable hyperlipidemic rabbit. These results suggest that GP66 is rabbit vitronectin and that it is vitronectin which selectively accumulates in thoracic aorta with the development of atherosclerosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

13-Hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE) metabolism and endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression: effect on platelet vessel wall adhesion.

Endothelial cells synthesize two important fatty acid metabolites, PGI2, which is synthesized from arachidonic acid via the cyclooxygenase pathway, and 13-HODE, which is synthesized from linoleic acid via the lipoxygenase pathway. PGI2 is synthesized following cell activation or injury while 13-HODE is synthesized in the unstimulated cell. While the role of PGI2 in platelet vessel wall interactions has been studied extensively, the role of 13-HODE in platelet vessel wall interactions is just now being understood. The present evidence suggests that 13-HODE is continuously synthesized in "resting" vessel wall cells and is in close juxtaposition with the ubiquous integrin adhesion molecule, the vitronectin receptor. The observation that the endothelial cell is not adhesive when 13-HODE and the vitronectin receptor are in close association and becomes adhesive when these two moieties dissociate and the vitronectin receptor relocates on the surface of the cell, provides further evidence that 13-HODE may induce conformational changes in the vitronectin receptor to reduce its ability to recognize its adhesive ligands. The additional observations that 13-HODE levels in both human and animal vessel walls are inversely related with vessel wall adhesivity, and that this adhesivity can be altered by altering 13-HODE synthesis, provides evidence that 13-HODE down-regulates the thrombogenecity of the injured vessel wall surface.

Animals↗

Human melanoma cell attachment involves an Arg-Gly-Asp-directed adhesion receptor and the disialoganglioside GD2.

The disialogangliosides GD2 and GD3 play a major role in the ability of human melanoma cells to attach to Arg-Gly-Asp-containing substrates such as fibronectin and vitronectin, since pretreatment of these cells with monoclonal antibodies to the oligosaccharide of GD2 and GD3 can inhibit their attachment and spreading on such adhesive proteins. This report demonstrates that human melanoma cells (M21) synthesize and express a glycoprotein receptor that shares antigenic epitopes with the vitronectin receptor on human fibroblasts and is capable of specifically recognizing the Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro sequence. Biochemical evidence is presented indicating that the vitronectin receptor on M21 human melanoma cells contains associated calcium and GD2. This ganglioside copurified with the glycoprotein receptor for vitronectin on affinity columns containing either an Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptide, Concanavalin A, or lentil lectin. This major Arg-Gly-Asp-directed receptor on M21 cells could be metabolically labeled with 45Ca++. Chelation of this ion with EDTA caused the dissociation of GD2 from the receptor and rendered the remaining glycoprotein incapable of binding to an Arg-Gly-Asp containing peptide. Reconstitution experiments demonstrated a requirement for calcium and not magnesium for receptor binding to Arg-Gly-Asp and indicated that addition of ganglioside can enhance this interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of the alloantigen Zwa (or P1A1) on human vascular smooth muscle cells and foreskin fibroblasts: a study on normal individuals and a patient with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.

The cytoadhesin family consists of platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa and the endothelial vitronectin receptor. The beta subunit (GP IIIa) of these complexes expresses the alloantigen Zwa (or PIA1). This alloantigen is not expressed by members of other integrin subfamilies. By using immunoprecipitation and immunoblot techniques, we found that the beta subunit of a heterodimer, expressed by cultured human arterial smooth muscle cells and cultured foreskin fibroblasts, carries the Zwa antigenic determinant. Furthermore, the mobilities of the alpha and beta subunits of these two heterodimers are indistinguishable from those of the alpha and beta subunits of the endothelial vitronectin receptor. Therefore, we propose that the smooth muscle cell and fibroblast heterodimer are members of the cytoadhesin family. In Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, platelet GP IIb-IIIa is absent or severely reduced. Previously, we showed that endothelial cells from a thrombasthenic patient normally synthesize and express a GP IIb-IIIa-related molecule (the vitronectin receptor). Here we show that arterial smooth muscle cells, obtained from the same patient, express a surface molecule indistinguishable from the endothelial vitronectin receptor. We also demonstrate that both the endothelial and the smooth muscle cell GP IIIa-related molecule in this Glanzmann patient express Zwa. Our data indicate that (a) GP IIb-IIIa-related molecules on cell types other than platelets and endothelial cells can express Zwa in vitro, and (b) patients with Glanzmann's disease can express the Zwa antigen. This study substantiates our view that the defect in Glanzmann's disease is restricted to the megakaryocytes/platelets.

Antigens, Human Platelet↗

Regulation of neutrophil motility and adhesion by intracellular calcium transients.

Neutrophils are guided to the sites of infection or inflammation by gradients of chemoattractants. Chemoattractants stimulate rapid and repeated changes in neutrophil intracellular calcium, [Ca2+]i, which correlate with cell spreading, pseudopod extension, motility, change of direction and phagocytosis. However, blocking the [Ca2+]i transients has little effect on cell spreading, polarization or pseudopod extension. Thus, either the [Ca2+]i transients are not required for cell spreading, polarization or pseudopod extension or other redundant mechanisms are present that allow the cells to perform these functions in vitro. In contrast, cell motility is [Ca2+]i dependent when the cells are examined on physiological substrates such as fibronectin or vitronectin. Calcium-buffered cells appear to make repeated attempts to move but are unable to detach from a fibronectin or vitronectin substrate. Motility can be restored to [Ca2+]i buffered cells by blocking substrate attachment with RGD peptides or by using a less adherent substrate such as albumin. A similar inhibition of motility on vitronectin could be induced by inhibitors of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase, calcineurin. Thus, the periodic increases in [Ca2+]i apparently activate the phosphatase calcineurin to initiate a cycle of detachment from the vitronectin substratum. These data suggest that the [Ca2+]i transients regulate motility by coordinating a series of substrate-specific attachment/detachment events.

Calcineurin↗

Distribution of connective tissue proteins during development and neovascularization of the epicardium.

OBJECTIVE: The epicardium is the site of initial cardiac neovascularization and formation of the coronary circulatory system. Recent evidence indicates that vascular progenitor cells are influenced by the connective tissue proteins of their extracellular environment, yet little is known about the composition or function of the embryonic epicardial extracellular matrix (ECM). This study examines the distribution of ECM proteins during the migration, growth and maturation of epicardial cells and also during the development of the coronary vascular network. METHODS: Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to determine the distributions of vitronectin, fibronectin and a newly described fibrillin-like protein, the JB3 antigen, in the embryonic chicken heart. Immunoblot analysis was performed to compare the relative electrophoretic mobilities of the JB3 antigen and fibrillin-1. RESULTS: The data show that vitronectin and fibronectin are present at sites of initial migration of the epicardial cells. The expression of vitronectin (and also fibronectin) becomes more pronounced as the epicardium thickens, undergoes remodeling and differentiates. The JB3 antigen is prominently expressed in the coronary arteries, allowing visualization of their connection to the systemic circulation and to the heart muscle, as well as vessel wall formation and organization. Immunoblot analysis suggests that the JB3 antibody recognizes a fibrillin-like polypeptide that is distinct from fibrillin-1. CONCLUSIONS: The observed distributions of vitronectin and fibronectin are consistent with roles in migration of epicardial cells, in remodeling of the epicardium and as substratum components during blood vessel formation. The observed distribution of the JB3 antigen indicates a structural/organizational role in coronary arterial wall assembly and suggests that the JB3 antibody be considered an early marker for maturing coronary arteries.

Animals↗

Integrin involvement in glioblastoma multiforme: possible regulation by NF-kappaB.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant astroglial-derived tumors which has the propensity to aggressively infiltrate normal regions of the brain surrounding the tumor. The interaction of tumor cells with the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an integral step in the process of tumorigenesis and may play a role in the local invasion of the GBM cells. Our study investigated the role of the nuclear transcription factor NF-kappaB on GBM integrin expression and cell attachment. Our results show that treatment of GBM cell lines, SNB-19 and T98G with PMA, an inducer of NF-kappaB, increased the expression of fibronectin and vitronectin genes. Accordingly, ectopic over-expression of NFkappaB subunits in GBM cells elevated the levels of fibronectin gene expression, providing direct evidence for a regulatory role for NF-kappaB in ECM protein production. Cell attachment to the ECM proteins including fibronectin, vitronectin and laminin was increased in GBM and normal astrocytic cells. Interestingly, treatment of cells with PMA augmented attachment of SNB-19 and T98G cells to fibronectin and vitronectin, however it had no effect on attachment of normal astrocytes. Addition of the tripeptide arginine-glycine-asparatic acid (RGD), the recognition site for many integrins, significantly inhibited SNB-19 and T98G cell attachment to fibronectin and vitronectin. Finally, activation of NFkappaB upon treatment of SNB cells with PMA led to an increase in the levels of mRNA for the beta3 and the alphav integrin subunits. Collectively, these data demonstrate a possible role for NF-kappaB in glioma cell attachment.

Carcinogens↗

Protein adsorption and smooth muscle cell adhesion on biodegradable agmatine-modified poly(propylene fumarate-co-ethylene glycol) hydrogels.

We synthesized positively charged biodegradable hydrogels from poly(propylene fumarate-co-ethylene glycol) block copolymer and agmatine-modified poly(ethylene glycol)-tethered fumarate by radical crosslinking, and investigated the effect of the guanidino group of agmatine on vascular smooth muscle cell adhesion and protein adsorption to the hydrogels. In the presence of serum, the number of adherent smooth muscle cells per unit surface area increased dose-dependently from 15 to 75% of the initial seeding density at 20 h as the initial agmatine-modified monomer content increased from 0 to 200 mg/g. Cell spreading also depended on the initial monomer content. In the absence of serum, the number of adherent cells per unit surface area increased slightly from 10 to 17% of the initial seeding density as the initial monomer content increased from 0 to 200 mg/g. Cell adhesion increased significantly by adding exogenous vitronectin to serum-free medium, whereas exogenous fibronectin addition did not enhance cell adhesion. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of fibronectin and vitronectin adsorbed onto the hydrogels revealed that the incorporation of positive charges into the hydrogels enhanced vitronectin, but not fibronectin, adsorption significantly. These results suggest that the guanidino group of agmatine enhanced cell adhesion by promoting the adsorption of serum components, and vitronectin may be one of the components.

Agmatine↗

Binding of extracellular matrix proteins by enterococci.

Forty-four enterococcal strains isolated from human clinical specimens were investigated for binding of 125I-labeled fibronectin, vitronectin, thrombospondin, lactoferrin, and collagen type I and IV, and for cell surface hydrophobicity. Most strains expressed low binding of iodine-labeled human fibronectin, collagen I and IV, and higher binding of human vitronectin, human lactoferrin, and human thrombospondin. Bacteria grown in Todd-Hewitt broth exhibited increased binding to vitronectin and thrombospondin. In particle agglutination assays (PAA), Enterococcus faecalis strains reacted strongly with coated latex beads in contrast to E. faecium strains, which generally did not react. The ability of enterococci to bind ECM proteins was affected by heating and proteolytic digestion, suggesting that some protein-binding components become surface exposed after treatment with proteases. The binding of 125I-labeled proteins to E. faecalis strain E70 was inhibited when cells were preincubated with unlabeled proteins. Preincubating cells with sulfated polymers such as dextran sulfate (Mr 5000 and 8000), pentosan sulfate and heparin decreased binding of vitronectin, lactoferrin, and thrombospondin. The binding of lactoferrin and thrombospondin was also decreased when bacteria were preincubated with galactose, fucose, and mannosamine, but not with mannose. All of 30 E. faecalis strains expressed pronounced surface hydrophobicity, but 10 of 14 E. faecium strains showed hydrophilic cell surface.

Ammonium Sulfate↗

Adhesive properties of isolated chick osteocytes in vitro.

Different functions have been proposed for osteocytes over time, but it is now generally accepted that their most important task lies in the sensing of strain caused by mechanical loading on bone. The fact that mechanical strain can be sensed as deformation of the extracellular matrix or as fluid shear stress along the cell, in the space between cell membrane and extracellular matrix, requires that osteocytes have close (specialized) contact with the bone matrix. We studied to which extracellular matrix proteins isolated chicken osteocytes adhere and whether this adhesion is mediated by specific cell adhesion receptors called integrins. The adhesive properties of the osteocytes were compared with that of osteoblasts. Osteocytes (and osteoblasts) adhere to the same substrates (i.e., collagen types I and II, collagen fibers, osteopontin, osteonectin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, thrombospondin, and laminin). Cell spreading varied between substrates, from all cells rounded on thrombospondin to all cells fully spread out on osteopontin, osteonectin, vitronectin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, and laminin. The percentage of osteocytes adhered was equivalent to that of osteoblasts adhered on all substrates except osteopontin and vitronectin, where osteocytes adhered less. The adhesion of osteocytes and osteoblasts to osteopontin, osteonectin, vitronectin, and fibrinogen was strongly inhibited, and to fibronectin and laminin moderately, by an RGD peptide. No RGD inhibition was found on collagen. An antibody against chicken integrin alpha v beta 3, the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 23C6, did not interfere with the adhesion of osteocytes and osteoblasts to matrix proteins, whereas an MAb against chicken integrin subunit beta 1 (CSAT) strongly inhibited adhesion to all substrates. Labeling with osteocyte-specific MAbs (OB7.3, OB37.4, and OB37.11) also did not hinder the adhesion of osteocytes to collagen type I, vitronectin, and osteopontin. Adhesion sites on osteocytes were small compared with the large adhesion plaques of osteoblasts, as demonstrated by interference reflection microscopy and immunocytochemically by staining for vinculin. Osteocyte adhesion is analogous to osteoblast adhesion with regard to the range of extracellular matrix proteins to which they adhere. The adhesion is mediated by the integrin subunit beta 1, but other integrins or nonintegrin adhesion receptors are also involved. Osteocytes make contact with the extracellular matrix via small attachment points which colocalize with vinculin. This connection between the bone matrix and the cytoskeleton may be important for osteocytic sensing of mechanical strain, as it supplies a transduction route of extracellular (mechanical) signals into intracellular messages.

Animals↗

Age-dependent changes of the immunohistochemical distribution of various collagen types and structural glycoproteins in the human uterine tube.

This immunohistochemical investigation deals with the age-dependent localization and distribution of types I, III, IV, V, and VI collagen and the structural glycoproteins undulin, fibronectin, laminin, tenascin, and vitronectin in the connective tissue of the human uterine tube. The stroma of this oviductal region consisted of all collagen types. Collagen types I and VI were distributed throughout the connective tissue of the mucosa reaching the basal membrane. The findings suggest that the amount of these collagen types and type III collagen increases in relation to age, since the coarser fibres of the mucosal stroma in the uterine tubes of older women were strongly labelled by immunohistochemistry. The pattern of undulin reactivity was similar to that of types I and VI collagen. The exact quantitative proportions of age-related oviductal changes for types I, III, and VI as well as of undulin are still unknown. Type V collagen was associated with a fine fibre meshwork in the mucosal stroma. The fibres reached the subepithelial zone which appeared membrane-like. The location of type V collagen-associated fibres and aldehyde fuchsin-positive fibres characterized in our previous studies appears to be identical. Moreover, the structural glycoproteins undulin, fibronectin, laminin, tenascin, and vitronectin were detected in the mucosal stroma. The staining of fibronectin was less pronounced than that of undulin. Laminin was located in the zone of the basal membrane, whereas tenascin was mainly found in the mucosal vessels. Contrary to these findings, tenascin showed a unique distribution in the region near the basis of the mucosal folds in the isthmic part. Vitronectin could be observed in the same region of the isthmic part of uterine tubes obtained from younger women. However, the zonal localization of vitronectin reactivity was absent in the isthmic part of older women.

Adult↗

Human ductal adenocarcinomas of the pancreas express extracellular matrix proteins.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas are characterised by a dense connective tissue reaction. To test the hypothesis that stroma components are synthesised and produced by the tumour cells themselves, eight cell lines as well as six xenografted tumours from human ductal adenocarcinomas of the pancreas were examined for the expression of extracellular matrix proteins (ECM), using cDNA probes and antibodies to collagen types I, III and IV, vitronectin, fibronectin, undulin and laminin. All tumour cell lines (CAPAN-1, CAPAN-2, AsPC-1, BxPC-3, PANC-1, PaCa-2, PaCa-3, PaCa-44) and xenografted human pancreatic tumours expressed at least one of the examined ECM at the RNA (collagen type IV > laminin = fibronectin = vitronectin > collagen type III > undulin > collagen type I) or protein level (collagen type IV = collagen type III > vitronectin > laminin > collagen type I = fibronectin > undulin). In nude mouse tumours expression of laminin and collagen I was most pronounced in well-differentiated carcinomas. In a few tumours, collagen type III, vitronectin and undulin were expressed on the luminal side of the neoplastic glands, suggesting loss of normal polar differentiation. Incubation with fetal calf serum modulated ECM RNA levels to a varying extent in all but one cell line (AsPC-1). The results suggest that human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas cells are capable of synthesising and producing extracellular matrix proteins in vitro and in vivo, but that the extent and pattern of ECM expression differs between the various tumours and conditions tested.

Animals↗

Activation of porcine endothelium in response to xenogeneic serum causes thrombosis independently of platelet activation.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial cell activation and microvascular thrombosis are hallmarks of hyperacute xenograft rejection. However, the molecular determinants of platelet-endothelial interaction and thrombus formation are poorly understood. This study investigated whether: (i) xenogeneic human serum (HS), as a source of xenoreactive antibodies and complement, activates porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC) to promote thrombus formation under high shear stress; (ii) the endothelial adhesive proteins vitronectin receptor and P-selectin are involved in the von Willebrand factor (VWF)-platelet interaction during the thrombotic process under flow; (iii) reactive oxygen species (ROS) are activated by complement and served as intracellular signals for adhesive protein up-regulation. METHODS: The PAEC were pre-exposed for 90 min in static conditions to medium plus 10, 20, and 50% HS or 20% porcine serum (PS), as control, then cells were perfused at 50 dynes/cm2 in a parallel plate flow chamber with human blood and area occupied by thrombi was measured. The role of complement in HS-induced thrombus formation was assessed by incubating PAEC with 20% HS in the presence of soluble complement receptor type 1 (sCR1) before blood perfusion. The effect of platelet activation was assessed using human blood treated or not with ADP and then flowed over PAEC pre-exposed to 20% HS or 20% PS as control. To identify the endothelial adhesive proteins involved in thrombus formation PAEC treated with 20% HS were then incubated with anti-vitronectin receptor antibody, anti-P-selectin antibody or P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), the soluble ligand of P-selectin, before the adhesion assay. Confocal microscopy was used to detect changes in endothelial adhesive protein expression. VWF interaction with platelet receptors GPIb and alphaIIbbeta3 was assessed adding aurin tricarboxylic acid (ATA) and anti-alphaIIbbeta3 antibody to blood before perfusion. The ROS involvement in xenogeneic serum-induced thrombus formation was determined studying the intracellular production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The effect of antioxidants and metal chelators on HS-induced thrombus formation was evaluated treating PAEC with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or 1,3-dimethyl-2-thiourea (DMTU) before and during incubation with 20% HS followed by blood perfusion. The effect of antioxidants and sCR1 on ROS generation was investigated treating PAEC with PDTC or DMTU before and during incubation with 20% HS. Intracellular ROS generation was measured by fluorescence spectroscopy using the probe dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR-123). RESULTS: Human serum but not PS caused thrombus formation on PAEC under high shear stress. Blockade of complement activation by sCR1 prevented xenogeneic serum-induced thrombus formation. Activated platelets did not promote thrombus formation on resting endothelium, and did not further increase platelet deposition on xenogeneic serum-treated PAEC. Vitronectin receptor and P-selectin were up-regulated on the endothelial surface by HS. Their functional blockade by specific antibodies prevented platelet deposition and thrombus formation. H2O2 production significantly increased when PAEC were exposed to the xenogeneic condition. Antioxidants and sCR1 completely prevented thrombus formation by reducing excessive ROS production and the expression of vitronectin receptor and P-selectin. CONCLUSIONS: Xenogeneic complement induces endothelial cell activation and thrombosis which is independent of platelet activation. Complement deposition elicits a rapid generation of ROS that lead to overexpression of endothelial adhesive molecules instrumental for platelet deposition.

Animals↗

Glycoprotein deposition in vascular walls of diabetic retinopathy. A histopathological and immunohistochemical study.

The association between periodic acid Schiff staining and immunoreactivity to laminin, fibronectin, vitronectin, and type VI collagen was studied qualitatively and quantitatively in the retinal vascular bed from 7 eyes of 5 diabetic patients and from 5 eyes of 5 normal persons. In the retina from diabetic patients the number of arterioles showing immunoreactivity to vitronectin, the number of venules showing immunoreactivity to type VI collagen, and the number of both arterioles and venules showing immunoreactivity to laminin and fibronectin, was higher than in normals. There was no difference between the number of capillaries showing periodic acid Schiff staining and immunoreactivity to laminin, fibronectin, and vitronectin when comparing areas of vascular occlusion with adjacent control areas. However, the number of capillaries displaying immunoreactivity to type VI collagen was higher in control areas than in areas of vascular occlusion in diabetic patients and in normal controls. Staining with periodic acid Schiff correlated topographically with immunoreactivity to laminin and fibronectin, but not with immunoreactivity to vitronectin and type VI collagen. In areas of vascular occlusion there was seen no immunoreactivity or histological staining corresponding to the material accumulated to occlude the ghost vessels.

Aged↗

Mechanical strain of rat vascular smooth muscle cells is sensed by specific extracellular matrix/integrin interactions.

Cyclic mechanical strain (1 Hz) causes a mitogenic response in neonatal rat vascular smooth muscle cells due to production and secretion of PDGF. In this study, the mechanism for sensing mechanical strain was investigated. Silicone elastomer strain plates were coated at varying densities with elastin, laminin, type I collagen, fibronectin, or vitronectin. Strain was applied by cyclic application of a vacuum under the dishes. Cells adhered, spread, and proliferated on each matrix protein, but the mitogenic response to strain was matrix dependent. Strain increased DNA synthesis in cells on collagen, fibronectin, or vitronectin, but not in cells on elastin or laminin. When strain was applied on matrices containing both laminin and vitronectin, the mitogenic response to strain depended upon the vitronectin content of the matrix. Fibronectin, in soluble form (0-50 micrograms/ml), and the integrin binding peptide GRGDTP (100 micrograms/ml) both blocked the mitogenic response to mechanical strain in cells grown on immobilized collagen. Neither soluble laminin nor the inactive peptide GRGESP blocked the response to strain. GRGDTP did not alter the mitogenic response to exogenous PDGF or alpha-thrombin but did prevent the secretion of PDGF in response to strain. Furthermore, GRGDTP, but not GRGESP, prevented strain-induced expression of a PDGF-A chain promoter 890 bp-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase construct that was transiently transfected into vascular smooth muscle cells. Finally, the response to strain was abrogated by antibodies to both beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 integrins but not by an antibody to beta 1 integrins. Thus interaction between integrins and specific matrix proteins is responsible for sensing mechanical strain in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Animals↗

Alpha 3 beta 1 integrin is moved into focal contacts in kidney mesangial cells.

The movement of integrins into focal adhesive structures accompanies cell attachment to extracellular matrix. The kinetics of incorporation of integrins into focal contacts was studied during attachment to matrix of mesangial cells of the kidney glomerulus. On collagen, fibronectin, laminin and vitronectin, the number and intensity of talin-focal contacts increased with time. Talin-containing focal contacts were present in mesangial cells within 2 h of plating and in control cells (HT1080 and Rugli) within 1 h. Integrin alpha-chains colocalized with talin, dependent on the matrix substrate. The attachment, spreading and organization of integrin into focal contacts was not affected when endogenous protein synthesis was suppressed with cycloheximide. In Rugli, alpha 1 beta 1 organized into focal contacts on collagen and laminin, while in HT1080 alpha 2 beta 1 organized on collagen type I, alpha 5 beta 1 on fibronectin, alpha 6 beta 1 on laminin, and alpha 3 beta 1 and alpha 4 beta 1 were diffusely distributed on all substrates. These distributions mirrored the usage and expression patterns previously established for integrins in these cells and was as predicted from the literature. In mesangial cells, however, alpha 3 beta 1 was also organized into prominent focal contact arrays on collagen, fibronectin, EHS and human placental laminins, but not on vitronectin, while alpha 6 beta 1 was not organized. Initial attachment and spreading of mesangial cells was absolutely dependent on divalent cations. Mg2+ and Mn2+ supported attachment on all substrates, while Ca2+ stimulated attachment on laminin (E8), fibronectin and vitronectin. The data suggest that the functional integrins on mesangial cells include alpha 1 beta 1 (on collagen and laminin) alpha 2 beta 1 (on collagen), alpha 5 beta 1 (on fibronectin) and alpha V beta 3 (on vitronectin). However, mesangial cells do not use alpha 6 beta 1 on laminin, and the data support a role for alpha 3 beta 1 as putative receptor for fibronectin, collagen and laminin.

Animals↗

Role of hypoxia and extracellular matrix-integrin binding in the modulation of angiogenic growth factors secretion by retinal pigmented epithelial cells.

The retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) is a monolayer of polarized cells located between retinal photoreceptors and blood vessels of the choroid. The basal surface of RPE cells rests on Bruch's membrane, a complex extracellular matrix structure which becomes abnormal in several disease processes, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Ruptures or abnormalities in Bruch's membrane are frequently accompanied by choroidal neovascularization. Disturbed interaction of RPE cells with their extracellular matrix (ECM) could play a role in this process. The present study was undertaken to examine the complex interactions between hypoxia, integrin, and ECM in the regulation of RPE functions. Antibody blocking experiments demonstrated that RPE cell adhesion to vitronectin is mediated primarily through alphavbeta5 and adhesion to fibronectin occurs through alpha5beta1. RPE adhesion to immobilized laminin demonstrated highest level of non-RGD-mediated adhesion as compared to that with collagen IV or the RGD matrices such as vitronectin (alphavalpha5) , fibronectin (alpha5beta1), or thrombospondin (alpha5beta1 + alphavbeta5). Addition of soluble vitronectin, or fibrinogen to RPE cell cultures resulted in a small to moderate increase in VEGF and FGF2 in the media, while each of these growth factors was dramatically increased after addition of thrombospondin 1 (TSP1). In contrast, soluble fibronectin resulted in differential upregulation of VEGF but not FGF2. Similarly, immobilized TSP1 resulted in differential greater upregulation in VEGF but not FGF2 release from RPE as compared to other ECMs under either normoxic or hypoxic conditions. Additionally, hypoxia resulted in a time-dependent increase in VEGF, but not FGF2 release in the media. RPE cells grown on TSP1-coated plates showed increased VEGF and FGF2 in their media compared to cells grown on plates coated with type IV collagen, laminin, vitronectin, or fibronectin. The TSP1-induced increase in secretion of growth factors was partially blocked by anti-alpha5beta1, anti-alphavbeta3, and anti-alphavbeta5 antibodies indicating that it may be mediated in part by TSP1 binding to those integrins. These data suggest that alterations in oxygen levels (hypoxia/ischemia) and ECM of RPE cells, a prominent feature of AMD, can cause increased secretion of angiogenic growth factors that might contribute to the development of choroidal neovascularization. These data also suggest the potential modulatory role of VEGF release from RPE by ECM and alphavbeta5 and alpha5beta1 integrins.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

[Terminal complement complex (TCC) levels in urine in patients with renal diseases].

The terminal complement complex (TCC) has been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of proteinuria not only in experimental nephritis but also in human glomerulonephritis. In order to clarify the clinical significance of TCC, the author investigated a total of 129 pediatric patients with the following glomerular diseases: idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS; 40 cases), IgA nephropathy (IgAN; 48 cases), mesangio-capillary glomerulonephritis (MPGN; 16 cases), lupus nephritis (LN; 16 cases), purpura nephritis (5 cases) and membranous nephritis (4 cases). Results were analyzed in relation to the responsiveness to steroid treatment in INS and the degree of proteinuria and histopathologic severity in glonerulonephritis groups. In 40 patients who underwent renal biopsy, the localizations of vitronectin and clusterin, both of which are regulatory proteins for TCC, were examined by immunofluorescence microscopy in conjunction with that of TCC for the study of the mechanism of local defense in glomerulonephritis. The urinary TCC levels were elevated in 9 (90%) of 10 patients with steroid-resistant INS, while they were elevated only in 2 of 30 steroid-responsive patients. In glomerulonephritis groups, urinary TCC levels were elevated in 13 of 48 patients with IgAN, 6 of 16 with MPGN, 8 of 16 with LN, 2 of 5 purpural nephritis and 1 of 4 with membranous nephritis. Urinary TCC levels correlated with histological severity in IgAN and showed a reciprocal relation to C3 levels in MPGN and LN. Immunofluorescence findings showed that localization of TCC was quite similar to that of C3 in glomerulonephritis groups. Vitronectin and clusterin were also demonstrated to deposit in similar pattern to TCC. These results suggest that in INS urinary TCC levels could predict the responsiveness to steroid therapy and might be useful as a non-invasive diagnostic method in differential diagnosis of INS. In IgAN, urinary TCC could be a useful marker of histologic severity. The deposition of vitronectin and clusterin together with TCC in glomerulus suggests the possibility that vitronectin and clusterin play a role in reducing the formation of TCC in glomerular tissues.

Adolescent↗