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Anti-LFA-1 blocking antibodies prevent mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells induced by interleukin-8.

Previously, we have shown that interleukin (IL)-8 induces the rapid (15 to 30 minutes) mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) in mice. Because integrins are essential for adhesion and transendothelial migration of HPC, we studied the involvement of the beta2-integrin leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) in IL-8-induced mobilization. After a single injection of blocking anti-LFA-1 antibodies, no mobilization of colony-forming cells was observed. In addition, when mice were pretreated with anti-LFA-1 or saline and subsequently injected with 30 microg of IL-8, mobilization of HPC was completely blocked. We showed that this was not due to anti-LFA-1 antibodies affecting colony formation, as addition of anti-LFA-1 antibodies to colony cultures in semisolid medium had no inhibitory activity. Also, anti-intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 antibodies, directed to the main ligand of LFA-1 significantly inhibited the IL-8-induced mobilization. Furthermore, IL-1-induced mobilization was significantly inhibited by anti-LFA-1 antibodies. Because LFA-1 is reported to be expressed on more differentiated HPC, it was considered that the IL-8-induced mobilization of more primitive HPC would not be blocked by anti-LFA-1 antibodies. Transplantation of blood-derived mononuclear cells (MNC) from IL-8-mobilized animals pretreated with anti-LFA-1 antibodies protected only 25% of lethally irradiated recipient mice, whereas the radioprotection rate of control mice transplanted with MNC derived from IL-8-mobilized animals was 86% (P < .01). Anti-LFA-1 antibodies did not interfere with stem cell homing, as transplantation of IL-8-mobilized blood MNC, incubated in vitro with these antibodies resulted in 100% radioprotection. We conclude that anti-LFA-1 antibodies completely prevent the rapid mobilization of colony-forming cells and of cells with radioprotective capacity induced by IL-8. These results indicate a major role for the beta2-integrin LFA-1 in the IL-8-induced mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells.

Animals↗

Adhesion, transendothelial migration, and reverse transmigration of in vitro cultured dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DC) are migratory cells which exhibit complex trafficking properties in vivo, involving interaction with vascular and lymphatic endothelium and extracellular matrix (ECM). The underlying mechanisms involved in these processes are still ill defined. In the present study we have investigated the ability of DC to interact in vitro with human vascular endothelial cells (EC) and ECM. DC were differentiated from monocytes by in vitro exposure to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-13 for 7 days. In adhesion assays a considerable proportion of DC bound to resting EC monolayers: (17% +/- 4%, mean +/- SE of eight experiments). Adhesion to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-activated EC was increased to 29% +/- 5% (n = 8). Binding to resting EC was strongly inhibited by anti-CD11a and CD11b, but not by CD11c monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs); on TNF-activated EC, anti-VLA-4 in concert with anti-CD18 inhibited adhesion by more than 70%. Binding to a natural ECM, derived from cultured EC, or to purified fibronectin was high: 52% +/- 6% (n = 8) involved VLA-4 and VLA-5 integrins. In a transmigration assay, 10% +/- 2% (n = 6) of input cells were able to cross the EC monolayer. Unlike adhesion, transendothelial migration was significantly reduced by anti-CD31 MoAb. The amount of DC transmigrated through a monolayer of EC was increased twofold to threefold by a defined set of C-C chemokines including RANTES, MIP1alpha, MIP5, and, to a lesser extent, by MIP1beta and MCP-3. Most importantly, in view of the trafficking pattern of these cells, a significant proportion of DC (13% +/- 4% of input cells seeded) was able to migrate across the endothelial basement membrane and, subsequently, across the endothelial barrier (reverse transmigration). The adhesion molecules and chemoattractants characterized herein are likely to underlie the complex trafficking of DC in vivo.

CD11 Antigens↗

Different adhesive characteristics and VLA-4 expression of CD34(+) progenitors in G0/G1 versus S+G2/M phases of the cell cycle.

We identified the cell cycle status of CD34(+) cells of steady-state bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) obtained from healthy volunteers, and those of apherasis PB samples collected from healthy donors who had been administered granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). More than 10% of CD34(+) cells in BM were in S+G2/M phase. In contrast, regardless of whether G-CSF treatment was performed, less than 2% of CD34(+) cells in PB were cycling. BM CD34(+) cells showed greater VLA-4 expression and adherence to stromal cells than PB CD34(+) cells. In addition, when cycling and dormant BM CD34(+) cells were analyzed separately, the cells in S+G2/M phase expressed more VLA-4 and adhered to the stromal cell monolayer more efficiently than the cells in G0/G1 phase. Furthermore, this adhesion of CD34(+) cells to the stromal cell layer was almost completely inhibited by anti-VLA-4 antibody. Taken together, these results suggest that CD34(+) progenitors in G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle differ from those in S+G2/M phase in adhesiveness mediated by VLA-4 in the hematopoietic microenvironment.

Adult↗

Role of adhesion molecules in the homing and mobilization of murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

Bone marrow (BM) transplantation still must overcome multiple difficulties and should benefit from better understanding of stem-cell homing and mobilization. Here, we analyzed the involvement of several adhesion molecules in the two processes by treating mice with monoclonal antibodies against these molecules. Treatment of lethally irradiated mice grafted with isogeneic BM cells showed that at least two migration pathways are important for stem-cell homing to the BM, whereas only one of them is involved in lodging of colony-forming unit-spleen (CFU-S) in the spleen. We confirm that the VLA-4/VCAM-1 adhesion pathway is important for stem-cell homing to the BM only and show that CD44 is involved in CFU-S lodging in both BM and spleen. These results show that entry of CFU-S into the spleen is regulated. The observation that when one migration pathway is altered, CFU-S do not enter the BM via the other pathway may indicate that the two mechanisms involved in CFU-S homing into the BM are linked. The adhesion molecules VLA-4 and CD44 are also implied in the mobilization of stem cells into the blood stream of mice injected once with anti-VLA-4 or anti-CD44. Anti-VLA-4 administration led to a significant increase in circulating stem cells as early as 8 hours after treatment. Stem cells mobilized by anti-VLA-4 comprise cells with high self-renewal potential and thus may be used for long-term reconstitution of the hematopoietic tissue.

Animals↗

Impaired expression of integrin alpha-4 subunit in cultured mast cells derived from mutant mice of mi/mi genotype.

The mi locus encodes a member of the basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper protein family of transcription factors (hereafter called MITF). We have reported that expression of several genes was impaired in cultured mast cells (CMCs) of mi/mi mice due to a defective transactivation ability of mutant MITF (mi-MITF). Because attachment of mi/mi CMCs to fibroblasts is impaired, we examined the expression of integrin genes in mi/mi CMCs in the present study. Among the integrin genes examined, the expression of integrin alpha4 subunit was barely detectable in mi/mi CMCs, and the alpha4 protein was not detected by flow cytometry either. The specific adhesion to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), the ligand for alpha4 subunit, was observed in +/+ CMCs but not in mi/mi CMCs, indicating that the expression of integrin alpha4 subunit at a functional level did not occur in mi/mi CMCs. In the promoter region of the alpha4 subunit gene, there was a CACTTG motif to which normal MITF (+- MITF) bound. The coexpression of +-MITF but not of mi-MITF transactivated the promoter of the alpha4 subunit gene. The deletion or mutation of the CACTTG motif abolished the transactivation by +-MITF, suggesting that +-MITF directly transactivated the gene encoding alpha4 subunit of integrin.

Animals↗

Histamine-induced adherence and migration of equine eosinophils.

OBJECTIVES: To examine effects of histamine on equine eosinophil adherence in vitro and to determine the histamine receptor subtype(s) and cell surface adhesion molecules that mediate this response. In addition, to determine the receptor subtypes involved in histamine-induced eosinophil migration. ANIMALS: 8 healthy ponies. PROCEDURE: Effects of histamine on equine eosinophil adherence to serum- or fibronectin-coated plastic, and migration in a microchemotaxis assay were examined. In some experiments, eosinophils were pretreated with histamine receptor antagonists or monoclonal antibodies raised against cell adhesion molecules. For comparison, the effect of histamine on equine neutrophil adherence and migration was studied. RESULTS: Histamine induced adherence of equine eosinophils, but not neutrophils, to serum- and fibronectin-coated plastic (P < 0.01). Histamine also caused migration of equine eosinophils, but not neutrophils (P < 0.01). Histamine-induced adherence and migration of equine eosinophils were inhibited by histamine, (H,)-receptor antagonists chlorpheniramine and mepyramine (P < 0.01), but not H2- or H3-receptor antagonists cimetidine and thioperamide. Monoclonal antibodies raised against CD18, but not very late antigen 4, reduced histamine-induced equine eosinophil adherence to serum- and fibronectin-coated plastic (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: When released from mast cells or basophils, histamine could stimulate adherence and migration of equine eosinophils via H, receptor activation and induce adherence of equine eosinophils to opsonized surfaces or dermal connective tissue matrix proteins via CD18 activation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Histamine may have a part in regulating equine eosinophil function during parasitic killing or antigen-induced responses in horses with insect hypersensitivity.

Animals↗

SFA-1/PETA-3 (CD151), a member of the transmembrane 4 superfamily, associates preferentially with alpha 5 beta 1 integrin and regulates adhesion of human T cell leukemia virus type 1-infected T cells to fibronectin.

In this study we have analyzed the adhesion molecules associated with and the biologic function of SFA-1/PETA-3 (CD151) in human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected T cells and in freshly isolated adult T cell leukemia (ATL) cells using an anti-CD151 mAb. The anti-CD151 mAb coprecipitated alpha 5 beta 1 integrin from HTLV-1-infected T cells. Conversely, an anti-alpha 5 integrin mAb coprecipitated CD151. The anti-CD151 mAb inhibited the adhesion of HTLV-1-infected T cells to fibronectin but did not have any effect on their adhesion to laminin, collagen type I, or collagen type IV. Moreover, antisense CD151 oligonucleotide-treated HTLV-1-infected T cells showed significant inhibition of adhesion to fibronectin. These findings showed that the CD151 molecule was associated with the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin molecule and that it enhanced alpha 5 beta 1 integrin-mediated adhesion to fibronectin. In addition, the expression levels of CD151, alpha 4 beta 1 integrin, and alpha 5 beta 1 integrin on ATL cells from lymph nodes of lymphoma-type ATL patients were significantly higher than those on circulating ATL cells from leukemia-type ATL patients. This suggests that the increased expression of these integrins may contribute to lymphoma formation through the adhesion of ATL cells to the extracellular matrix and dendritic cells, rather than contributing to transmigration.

Animals↗

Osteoclast-mediated bone resorption is stimulated during short-term administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor but is not responsible for hematopoietic progenitor cell mobilization.

The cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) mobilization from bone marrow (BM) into peripheral blood after administration of cytokines such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) are still unknown. In this study we show that high concentrations of soluble calcium induce the detachment of BM CD34(+) HPC adherent on fibronectin, a major component of BM extracellular matrix. Because G-CSF has been shown to induce osteoporosis in patients with congenital neutropenia and in G-CSF-overexpressing transgenic mice, we hypothesized that short-term G-CSF administration may be sufficient to induce bone resorption, resulting in the release of soluble calcium in the endosteum leading in turn to the inhibition of attachment to fibronectin and the egress of HPC from the BM. We show herein that in humans, serum osteocalcin concentration, a specific marker of bone formation, is strongly reduced after 3 days of G-CSF administration. Furthermore, in patients mobilized with G-CSF either alone or in association with stem cell factor or interleukin-3, the reduction of serum osteocalcin is significantly correlated with the number of HPC mobilized in peripheral blood. Urine levels of deoxypyridinoline (DPyr), a specific marker of bone resorption, gradually elevated during the time course of G-CSF administration until day 7 after cessation of G-CSF, showing a simultaneous stimulation of bone degradation during G-CSF-induced HPC mobilization. In an in vivo murine model, we found that the number of osteoclasts was dramatically increased paralleling the elevation of DPyr after G-CSF administration. When pamidronate, an inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, was administered together with G-CSF in mice, the G-CSF-induced increase of DPyr levels was completely abolished whereas the numbers of colony-forming cells mobilized in peripheral blood were not decreased, but unexpectedly increased relative to the numbers elicited by G-CSF alone. Collectively, our data therefore show that short-term administration of G-CSF induces bone degradation by a simultaneous inhibition of bone formation and an enhanced osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. This increased bone resorption is inhibited by pamidronate without reducing G-CSF-induced HPC mobilization, suggesting that the activation of bone resorption after G-CSF administration is not the direct cause of HPC mobilization as initially hypothesized, but a parallel event.

Adult↗

Soluble VCAM-1 induces chemotaxis of Jurkat and synovial fluid T cells bearing high affinity very late antigen-4.

It has been shown that cells with high affinity very late Ag (VLA)-integrins have up-regulated expression of a beta1-subunit epitope, which is detected by 15/7 mAb. In this study, we demonstrate that soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) exhibits chemotactic activity of T cells with high affinity VLA-4 against VCAM-1, such as Jurkat T cells and IL-2-dependent T cells. Moreover, we found that T cells in the synovial fluid show high basal migration in the absence of sVCAM-1, compared with peripheral blood T cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Among T cells in the synovial fluid, CD45RO+ memory T cells, in response to sVCAM-1, showed a much higher than basal migratory response when compared with CD45RA+ naive cells, while no significant difference was observed between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The chemotactic activity of sVCAM-1 is inhibited in the presence of anti-VCAM-1 and anti-VLA-4, which interfered with the binding between VCAM-1 and VLA-4. Inhibition studies using various kinase inhibitors (C3 exoenzyme, KN62, and H7) show that Rho, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II, and protein kinase C are involved in signal transduction in sVCAM-1-induced chemotaxis, respectively, whereas tyrosine kinase seems to play a lesser role, since genistein showed only partial inhibition of T cell chemotaxis. Western blot analysis using an anti-phospho-serine mAb (MO82) reveals that Ser82 in the vimentin is phosphorylated specifically by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II through sVCAM-1 activation in the IL-2 dependent T cells. Collectively, by inducing migration and recruitment of T cells through several kinase activations, sVCAM-1 contributes to the development of the inflammation of synovial lesion.

Adult↗

Recruitment of hepatic NK cells by IL-12 is dependent on IFN-gamma and VCAM-1 and is rapidly down-regulated by a mechanism involving T cells and expression of Fas.

NK cells have been shown to be important antitumor or antiviral effector cells in the liver. In the present study we have examined the factors that regulate the initial recruitment and subsequent fate of hepatic NK and T cells in mice treated with IL-12 or IL-2. Daily administration of IL-12 caused a rapid initial increase in NK cells followed by a subsequent decrease that coincided with an accumulation of T cells. The recruitment of hepatic NK cells by IL-12, but not the subsequent T cell infiltrate, was abrogated in IFN-gamma(-/-) mice. In contrast, daily administration of IL-2 caused a sustained increase in liver-associated NK cells that was not diminished in IFN-gamma(-/-) mice. The IL-12-induced recruitment in both hepatic NK and T cells was abrogated by in vivo treatment with anti-VCAM-1 mAbs, while treatment with anti-ICAM-1 Abs decreased only the recruitment of T cells in the IL-12-treated mice. The rapid loss of newly recruited hepatic NK cells in IL-12-treated mice did not occur in SCID mice or in B.MRL-Fas(lpr) (Fas-) and B6Smn.C3H-Fasl(gld) (FasL-) mutant mice, suggesting that T cells can actively eliminate hepatic NK cells through a Fas-dependent mechanism. These findings also imply that during the endogenous innate immune response to infectious agents or tumors or in the host response induced by cytokine therapies, the biologic effects of NK cells may be limited by T cell-mediated effects.

Animals↗

Blood monocyte migration to acute lung inflammation involves both CD11/CD18 and very late activation antigen-4-dependent and independent pathways.

In acute lung inflammation, blood neutrophils and monocytes migrate into the lung parenchyma and bronchoalveolar space. The infiltration of the inflamed lung by monocytes is poorly understood because of difficulties in quantifying these cells in the presence of resident macrophages. Radiolabeled monocytes were used to study monocyte migration into the inflamed rat lung. Monocytes and neutrophils were purified from blood, labeled with 51Cr and (111)In, respectively, and injected i.v. into rats given an intratracheal injection of LPS. The accumulation of 51Cr-labeled monocytes increased > 10-fold in the lung parenchyma and 170-fold in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) 18 h after LPS. (111)In-labeled neutrophils increased > 30-fold in the lung tissue and 500-fold in the BAL. Treatment of rats with a blocking anti-CD18 mAb inhibited monocyte accumulation in the lung and BAL by about 30%, whereas blocking very late activation Ag-4 (VLA-4) had no effect. Combined blockade of VLA-4 and CD18 inhibited approximately 30% of the migration to the lung parenchyma, but decreased the BAL by 80%. Monocyte migration to cutaneous inflammation was completely abolished by the combined mAb treatment. Neutrophil accumulation in the lung and BAL was not decreased by blocking either CD18 or VLA-4 and was only partially reduced by blocking CD18 plus VLA-4. Thus, monocyte migration to the LPS inflamed lung is substantially CD11/CD18 and VLA-4 independent, but accumulation in BAL is mediated by CD18 and VLA-4. Monocytes as well as neutrophils may use a previously unrecognized endothelial adhesion and migration pathway in the lung.

Acute Disease↗

Functional cooperation of cyclin C and c-Myc in mediating homotypic cell adhesion via very late antigen-4 activation and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 induction.

Very late antigen-4 (VLA-4)/vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) are a pair of adhesion molecules mediating cell-cell interaction. The binding activity of each depends on its surface expression, yet integrin activity can also be modulated through inside-out signaling. However, the specific intracellular molecules involved in modulating integrin VLA-4 activation via inside-out signaling or in regulating VCAM-1 expression are poorly understood. We show here that constitutive coexpression of cyclin C and c-Myc in hematopoietic BAF-B03 cells induces homotypic cell adhesion, which results from enhanced VLA-4 ligand-binding activity and induced expression of VCAM-1. Furthermore, regulation of cell adhesion appears to be a feature unique to cyclin C, but not other G1 cyclins, E and D3, and its regulatory function is independent of CDK8 kinase activity. Our results provide a novel role for cyclin C and c-Myc in the regulation of cell adhesion through distinct mechanisms.

Animals↗

Interaction of very late antigen-4 with VCAM-1 supports transendothelial chemotaxis of monocytes by facilitating lateral migration.

The transient regulation of very late antigen (VLA)-4 avidity by CC chemokines may promote chemotaxis of monocytes across VCAM-1-bearing barriers, whereas late and prolonged activation of VLA-5 may mediate subsequent localization in the extracellular matrix. We demonstrate that interactions of VLA-4 with VCAM-1, fibronectin, or a 40-kDa fragment but not a 120-kDa fragment of fibronectin supported the lateral random migration of isolated blood monocytes induced by CC chemokines, termed chemokinesis. This effect was optimal at intermediate substrate concentrations. Moreover, coimmobilization of VCAM-1 with ICAM-1 allowed better migration than ICAM-1 alone. Chemokinesis on VCAM-1 appeared to be associated with transient regulation of VLA-4 avidity by CC chemokines, given that locking VLA-4 in a high avidity state markedly inhibited migration and the locomotion rate was inversely correlated with the adhesive strength of VLA-4 to VCAM-1 following stimulation with monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Induction of VCAM-1 expression by endothelial activation with IL-4 improved chemokinesis and lateral migration toward a monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 or a monocyte inflammatory protein-1alpha gradient on endothelium and increased transendothelial chemotaxis of monocytes by a VLA-4-dependent mechanism. In contrast, endothelial activation with IL-4 did not affect the time required for diapedesis of monocytes itself. Hence, VCAM-1 may facilitate transendothelial chemotaxis by supporting lateral migration of attached monocytes along endothelium.

Animals↗

The role of adhesion molecules in human leukocyte attachment to porcine vascular endothelium: implications for xenotransplantation.

Many obstacles still prevent successful xenotransplantation of porcine donor organs. When hyperacute rejection is averted, transplanted pig organs are subject to acute vascular and cellular rejection. In autologous systems, leukocyte recruitment into inflamed tissues involves selectins, integrins, and Ig family members. To determine whether these mechanisms allow human leukocytes to effectively enter porcine grafts, the pathways by which human leukocytes adhere to TNF-alpha-stimulated porcine aortic endothelium were examined under static and physiologic flow conditions. L-selectin and E-selectin had overlapping functions in neutrophil capture and rolling, whereas Ab blockade of E-selectin and the beta2 integrins inhibited firm arrest of rolling neutrophils. Combined blockade of selectins and beta2 integrins resulted in negligible human neutrophil attachment to pig endothelium. Lymphocyte attachment to porcine endothelium was primarily L-selectin mediated, whereas beta2 integrin and VCAM-1/very late Ag-4 (VLA-4) interactions promoted static adhesion. Concurrent beta2 integrin, VLA-4, VCAM-1, and L-selectin blockade completely inhibited lymphocyte attachment. Thus, interactions between leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion receptor pairs remained remarkably intact across the human-porcine species barrier. Moreover, disrupting the adhesion cascade may impair the ability of human leukocytes to infiltrate a transplanted porcine organ during rejection.

Animals↗

Selective requirements for leukocyte adhesion molecules in models of acute and chronic cutaneous inflammation: participation of E- and P- but not L-selectin.

Adhesion molecules borne by both endothelial cells and circulating leukocytes are in large measure responsible for guiding the process of extravasation. The selectin family has been primarily associated with the early stages of adhesion involving initial contact and rolling. A significant body of evidence has accumulated indicating a fundamental role for the endothelial members of this family, E- and P-selectin, in a variety of inflammatory states and models. Although originally identified as the lymph node-specific lymphocyte homing receptor, L-selectin has also been suggested to play an important role in leukocyte recruitment to sites of inflammation. We have recently demonstrated, using L-selectin-deficient mice, that defects in contact hypersensitivity (CHS) responses are in essence due to the inability of T cells to home to and be sensitized within peripheral lymph nodes, whereas nonspecific effector cells are fully capable of entry into sites of cutaneous inflammation (Catalina et al, J Exp Med 184:2341, 1996). In the present study, we perform an analysis of adhesion molecule usage in two models of skin inflammation and show in both L-selectin-deficient as well as wild-type mice that a combination of P- and E-selectin is crucial for the development of both acute (croton oil) and chronic (contact hypersensitivity) inflammation at sites of the skin, whereas L-selectin does not appear to play a significant role. Moreover, alpha4 integrins are shown to be integral to a CHS but not an acute irritant response, whereas CD44 does not significantly contribute to either. These results provide a systematic examination in one study of major adhesion molecules that are critical in acute and chronic skin inflammation. They reinforce the essential role of the collaboration of E- and P-selectin in both specific and nonspecific skin inflammatory responses and the importance of alpha4 in the specific response only. In addition, they substantiate only a limited role, if any, for L-selectin in these cutaneous effector mechanisms and demonstrate the essential equivalence in this analysis of L-selectin-deficient mice compared with normal mice treated with blocking antibodies.

Animals↗

High affinity very late antigen-4 subsets expressed on T cells are mandatory for spontaneous adhesion strengthening but not for rolling on VCAM-1 in shear flow.

The very late Ag-4 (VLA-4) integrin supports both rolling and firm adhesion of leukocytes on VCAM-1 under shear flow. The molecular basis for the unique ability of a single adhesion molecule to mediate these versatile adhesive processes was investigated. VLA-4 occurs in multiple activation states, with different affinities to ligand. In this study we tested how these states regulate VLA-4 adhesiveness under shear flow in Jurkat T cells and PBL. VLA-4 on nonstimulated Jurkat cells supported rolling and spontaneous arrest on VCAM-1, whereas a Jurkat activation mutant with reduced VLA-4 affinity failed to spontaneously arrest after tethering to or during rolling on VCAM-1. The contribution of VLA-4 affinity for ligand to rolling and spontaneous arrests on immobilized VCAM-1 was dissected using soluble VLA-4 ligands, which selectively block high affinity states. VLA-4 saturation with ligand completely blocked spontaneous adhesion strengthening post-tethering to VCAM-1, but did not impair rolling on the endothelial ligand. High affinity VLA-4 was found to comprise a small subset of VLA-4 on resting Jurkat cells and PBL. This subset is essential for firm adhesion but not for tethering or rolling adhesions on VCAM-1. Interestingly, low and high affinity VLA-4 states were found to mediate similar initial tethering to ligand. High affinity VLA-4, constitutively expressed on circulating T cells, may control their early adhesion strengthening on VCAM-1-expressing endothelium before exposure to vascular chemokines and activation of additional integrins.

Cell Adhesion↗

Functional role of alpha4beta1 and alpha5beta1 integrin fibronectin receptors expressed on adriamycin-resistant MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cells.

Cytofluorimetric and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed that adriamycin-resistant (ADRR), but not sensitive (WT), MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cell lines express alpha4beta1 and alpha5beta1 integrins. ADR(R) cells adhere to fibronectin (FN), and only alpha5beta1 is involved in cell adhesion to this glycoprotein, while alpha4beta1 mediates cell binding to the cellular counter-receptor VCAM-1. Proliferation assays showed that FN, but not VCAM-1, delivers a mitogenic signal to quiescent ADR(R) MCF-7 cells. The activating signal is mediated by alpha5beta1, since cell proliferation is inhibited in the presence of RGD peptide or specific antibody. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that cell/FN interaction induces the re-entry of ADR(R) MCF-7 into S phase, and prevents them from undergoing serum deprivation-induced apoptosis. Our data suggest that the presence of alpha5beta1 on the resistant cells enables them to draw advantage from FN for both cell growth and survival.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Active detachment involves inhibition of cell-matrix contacts of malignant melanoma cells by secretion of melanoma inhibitory activity.

Melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) has been identified as a small protein secreted from malignant melanoma cells. Recent results revealed a direct interaction of MIA and epitopes within extracellular matrix proteins including fibronectin. The aim of this study was to analyze functional consequences mediated by this interaction. Here we show that MIA interferes specifically with attachment of melanoma cells to fibronectin, a phenomenon we refer to as active detachment. Antibodies inhibiting binding of alpha4beta1 and alpha5beta1 integrins to fibronectin cross-react specifically with MIA, suggesting that MIA shares significant structural homology with the binding pockets of these integrins and thereby masks the respective epitopes on extracellular matrix molecules. Several peptides derived from fibronectin and from a phage display screening were tested with respect to a potential MIA-inhibitory effect. In vitro tests identified two peptides affecting MIA function; both inhibited growth of melanoma metastases in vivo. In summary, we conclude that MIA may play a role in tumor progression and spread of malignant melanomas via mediating active detachment of cells from extracellular matrix molecules within their local milieu. Further, our results suggest that inhibiting MIA functions in vivo may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for metastatic melanoma disease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗