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The immunoreactivity, ligand, and cell binding characteristics of rheumatoid synovial fluid fibronectin.

Fibronectin promotes macrophage adherence and expression of Fc receptors, is chemotactic for fibroblasts, and is an opsonin for fibrin and denatured collagen. These properties suggest a role for fibronectin in the modulation of joint inflammation. Since structural modification of the fibronectin molecule has been shown to result in loss or de novo acquisition of opsonic and chemotactic activity, we determined the functional and immunochemical properties of fibronectin isolated from the inflamed joint. Eighty-six percent of synovial fluids obtained from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) contained fibronectin fragments, and 39% of the fluids no longer displayed the dimeric form. Compared with native fibronectin, RA peptides were as active in promoting synoviocyte chemotaxis and in glycosaminoglycan binding, but displayed lower affinity for fibrin and gelatin. Although comparable with intact protein in augmenting monocyte attachment to gelatin, the RA synovial fluid peptides did not augment monocyte attachment to fibrin. Analysis of whole synovial fluid and isolated fibronectins by enzyme immunoassay showed that the increased fibronectin immunoreactivity, previously reported in RA synovial fluid, measures intact and nearly intact protein and does not measure extensively degraded fragments.

Animals↗

Effect of acute starvation on plasma fibronectin response to sepsis.

There is evidence that undernutrition may contribute to the reduction in plasma fibronectin concentration and the depression of the reticuloendothelial (RE) system associated with severe sepsis. We have investigated the effects of fasting, surgical trauma and sepsis on plasma fibronectin concentrations and RE function. In experiment 1, plasma fibronectin was measured in rabbits (n = 14) before and 48 h after fasting. In experiment 2, sepsis was induced by devascularization of the appendix in animals on a normal diet (sepsis group, n = 7). A third group of animals underwent only a laparotomy (laparotomy only group, n = 7). Plasma fibronectin concentrations and the blood clearance and organ distribution of 99mtechnetium tin colloid (TTC) were measured 24 h after operation. Compared with pooled reference plasma, fasting in experiment 1 resulted in a reduction in mean(s.e.m.) plasma fibronectin concentration from 98(1.5) per cent to 86(3.7) per cent (T = 2, P less than 0.005). Mean(s.e.m.) plasma fibronectin concentration was raised in the sepsis group to 117(4.6) per cent, compared with 97(2.5) per cent in the laparotomy only group (U = 5, P less than 0.02), but there was no such increase in the fasting and sepsis group. There was a delay in the blood clearance and reduced hepatic uptake of TTC in both sepsis groups. The dissociation between fibronectin concentrations and RE function in animal models of sepsis casts doubt on the importance of fibronectin in RE function.

Acute Disease↗

Fibronectin associated with infiltrating T lymphocytes. Evidence for in situ localization in biopsies and synthesis in vitro.

Dermal and mucosal lymphocyte infiltrates in patients with lichen ruber planus and chronic graft-vs.-host disease exhibited reactivity with anti-fibronectin antibodies. This reactivity was associated with the lymphocytes and localized pericellularly. In contrast, biopsy areas outside lymphocyte accumulations were relatively devoid of reactivity with anti-fibronectin antibodies. Furthermore, the corresponding biopsies from healthy individuals or patients without lymphocyte infiltration showed negligible reactivity with anti-fibronectin antibodies. The fibronectin associated with infiltrating lymphocytes in biopsies may be exogenous of non-lymphoid origin. However, another possibility suggested by in vitro experiments is that this fibronectin is lymphocyte derived. Thus, during cultivation in vitro lymphocytes appear to synthesize a component with fibronectin-like properties. Furthermore, a prerequisite for detection of this synthesis was that the cells were cultured in the presence of serum depleted of fibronectin. These results point to the possibility that fibronectin may play a role for lymphocyte interactions with tissues during infiltrative processes.

Biopsy↗

Possible involvement of increase in spinal fibronectin following peripheral nerve injury in upregulation of microglial P2X4, a key molecule for mechanical allodynia.

We have recently demonstrated that the P2X4 receptor, an ATP-gated cation channel, in spinal microglia is a key molecule that mediates the mechanical allodynia induced by peripheral nerve injury. Although microglial P2X4 receptor expression is increased after peripheral nerve injury, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying its upregulation remains largely unknown. Fibronectin is a member of the extracellular matrix molecules and is actively produced in response to injury and diseases in the CNS. Here, we describe the influence of fibronectin on P2X4 receptor expression in microglia and the upregulation of fibronectin after peripheral nerve injury. Microglia that were cultured on fibronectin-coated dishes showed a marked increase in P2X4 receptor expression, both at the mRNA and protein levels, as compared to those cultured on control dishes. Fibronectin also enhanced the microglial Ca2+ responses mediated by P2X4 receptors. Moreover, Western blot examination of the spinal cord from a rat with spinal nerve injury indicated that fibronectin was upregulated on the ipsilateral side. Interestingly, intrathecal injection of ATP-stimulated microglia to the rat lumber spinal cord revealed that microglia cultured on fibronectin-coated dishes was more effective in the induction of allodynia than microglia cultured on control dishes. Taken together, our results suggest that spinal fibronectin is elevated after the peripheral nerve injury and it may be involved in the upregulation of the P2X4 receptor in microglia, which leads to the induction of neuropathic pain.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Effect of endotoxin on fibronectin and Kupffer cell activity.

The phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) in the liver is important in host resistance to shock. Fibronectin is a large molecular weight glycoprotein which influences particulate uptake by phagocytic cells. This study addressed the effect of repeated low-dose endotoxin challenge on immunoreactive fibronectin and reticuloendothelial phagocytic function in rats. Intravenous Escherichia coli endotoxin increased circulating immunoreactive fibronectin by 100% within 24 hr; normalization was within 96 hr. Elevated fibronectin levels at 48 hr were associated with increased plasma opsonic activity as tested by liver slice phagocytic assay and RES stimulation, and in vitro uptake of gelatinized target particles by Kupffer cells in liver slices from endotoxin treated rats was significantly increased. Endotoxin tolerance was produced by repeated low dose challenge with endotoxin for 7 days and was associated with RES stimulation, even though the circulating fibronectin concentrations had returned to normal. By immunofluorescence, insoluble fibronectin was widely distributed in the liver in a pattern analogous to the sinusoidal vascular network. We suggest that increased RES phagocytic activity after low dose endotoxin challenge is due to early elevation of plasma fibronectin and cellular stimulation of phagocytic function followed by a sustained stimulation of Kupffer cells in the presence of normal fibronectin levels. Both cellular and humoral factors may contribute to increased Kupffer cell phagocytic activity during endotoxin tolerance.

Animals↗

Prognostic value of serum fibronectin concentration in alcoholic cirrhotic patients.

The aim of this study was to assess prospectively the prognostic value of serum fibronectin in 114 alcoholic cirrhotic patients and to compare serum fibronectin with other prognostic variables. The Cox model and log-rank test were used to compare survival rates at 1 year. Considered alone, serum fibronectin, age, serum albumin, total serum bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, prothrombin time, presence of encephalopathy and ascites were associated with survival to 1 year. The estimated survival rate at the end of 1 year was, for patients with serum fibronectin greater than 165 mg per liter: 84 +/- 5%, and for patients with serum fibronectin less than or equal to 165 mg per liter: 53 +/- 7% (p less than 0.001). With the step-wise multidimensional analysis using the Cox model to assess the combined effect of several prognostic variables, serum fibronectin was the first variable selected followed by age, encephalopathy and serum albumin which entered the model by virtue of their independent prognostic value. Multivariate regression and partial correlation analysis showed that fibronectin was independently correlated with serum albumin, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and total serum bilirubin explaining that the prognostic value of albumin diminished and that the prognostic value of total serum bilirubin and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase disappeared when combined with serum fibronectin.

Bilirubin↗

Protective effects of fibronectin in galactosamine-induced liver failure in rats.

The effects of supplementation with fibronectin on liver damage and survival in rats with galactosamine-induced liver failure were studied. In rats with acute liver failure induced by a low dose of galactosamine, supplementation with purified plasma fibronectin at 3 hr after the administration of galactosamine provided significant increase of plasma fibronectin levels and augmentation of reticuloendothelial system function at 4 hr, significantly higher plasma fibronectin levels and significant protection of liver damage with shorter prothrombin times, lower AST and less histological damage at 48 hr as compared to control animals. Plasma fibronectin levels were inversely correlated with both plasma prothrombin times and AST. Fibronectin supplementation at 6 hr also resulted in the significant decrease of liver damage at 48 hr as evaluated histologically. When rats with liver failure, induced by a high dose of galactosamine, were supplemented with fibronectin at 3 hr, the survival rate was significantly higher than that of control rats. The results indicate that fibronectin supplementation in the early stages of acute liver failure could reduce liver damage and improve the survival of rats with galactosamine-induced liver failure.

Acute Disease↗

Characterization of the molecular forms of fibronectin in fulminant hepatic failure.

The plasma levels of the opsonic glycoprotein fibronectin are decreased in patients with fulminant hepatic failure, which may be an important factor in their impaired host-defense. Twenty-nine patients in fulminant hepatic failure were studied on admission, and the mean fibronectin level in Grade 0-2 encephalopathy was 82 micrograms per ml (range = 0 to 150) and in Grade 3-4 encephalopathy 61 micrograms per ml (range = 5 to 158) as compared to normal controls (268 micrograms per ml, range = 178 to 380, n = 62). No fibronectin degradation products could be detected in fulminant hepatic failure plasma by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis on a polyacrylamide gradient (5 to 15%) followed by immunoblotting onto nitrocellulose with detection using a rabbit antihuman fibronectin antiserum visualized with a peroxidase conjugate. The plasma levels of the marker proteolytic enzyme cathepsin D were significantly elevated in fulminant hepatic failure (120 +/- 31 mU per ml per hr) as compared to the normal controls (18 +/- 2.1 mU per ml per hr, n = 10, p less than 0.01). Cross-immunoelectrophoresis of fulminant hepatic failure plasma for fibronectin on agarose plates gave an additional slower migrating peak in 15 of the 29 patients, as well as that of fibronectin, which corresponded to the fibronectin complex reported by other workers in leukemia. An intermediate gel containing antihuman fibrinogen demonstrated fibrinogen to be one component of this complex. Binding of other substances to fibronectin will reduce its apparent biological activity and may be the result of their lack of clearance by the damaged liver.

Acetaminophen↗

Adsorption of fibronectin derived from serum and from human endothelial cells onto tissue culture polystyrene.

Human endothelial cells (HEC) suspended in a culture medium containing 20% human serum (CMS) adhere and spread on(to) moderately wettable polymers, such as tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS). We have previously shown that serum derived-fibronectin, which is a cell adhesion promoting protein, has a high affinity for TCPS, but that the amount of fibronectin which adsorbed from CMS was relatively small. In this study we investigated whether fibronectin derived from HEC contributes to the adhesion and spreading of the cells on(to) TCPS. Therefore, HEC were seeded in the presence of fibronectin-depleted CMS. The amount of fibronectin detected on TCPS increased with both cell seeding density and incubation time. Although initial HEC adhesion is delayed on TCPS which has been precoated with albumin (Alb), high density lipoprotein (HDL) or immunoglobulin G (IgG), maximal numbers of adhering and spreading HEC were found on these surfaces 6 h after seeding of HEC. Fibronectin was detected on these surfaces, but an exchange of preadsorbed Alb, HDL, or IgG for fibronectin could not be demonstrated. We conclude that HEC deposit fibronectin onto TCPS, irrespective of the presence of a preadsorbed layer of proteins which delay cell adhesion.

Adsorption↗

Functional differences in the interactions of glycosylation-deficient cell lines with fibronectin, laminin, and type IV collagen.

Fibronectin isolated from the conditioned medium of monolayer cultures of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells and several ricin-resistant (Ric) mutants derived from them express differences in N-glycosylation. The asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of BHK cell-derived fibronectin consist largely of complex chains, whereas hybrid and/or high-mannose chains are present in the fibronectins of mutant cell lines. The fibronectins exhibiting different glycosylation patterns are incorporated to similar extents into the cell-layer of human skin fibroblasts. In contrast, mutant cells retain significantly less endogenously produced fibronectin than BHK cells and also incorporate less human cellular fibronectin into a pericellular matrix. In vitro adhesion assays show that mutant cells attach to and spread relatively poorly on fibronectin-or type IV collagen-coated substrata but interact as well as do BHK cells with a laminin substratum. These results indicate that asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of fibronectin are not required for the binding and incorporation of the molecule into cell layers, but, as constituents of other cellular glycoproteins, they do modulate the ability of BHK cells to interact with some matrix components.

Animals↗

Modulation of endothelial fibronectin synthesis by polymorphonuclear granulocytes.

The attachment of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNs) to vascular endothelial cells occurs continually in normal tissues; however, knowledge of the factors that control leukocyte margination is incomplete. In the present study, we used cell cultures of pulmonary artery endothelium to study their interaction with PMNs. Endothelial cells were seeded in Costar 24-well plates following which PMNs were inoculated onto the endothelial monolayers and incubated for 2 to 20 hours. During this period, fibronectin synthesis by endothelial cells was estimated by ELISA. In wells to which PMNs had been added, supernatant fibronectin concentration was increased at all time points during the 20 hour incubation. At 20 hours, supernatants from wells to which PMNs had been added contained approximately 2 1/2 times the control level of fibronectin. Since the amount of fibronectin, as determined by ELISA, adsorbed onto the added PMNs was negligible, these data suggest that PMNs can modulate the synthesis of fibronectin by pulmonary artery cells. Pulse labeling experiments and measurements of endothelial intracellular fibronectin also suggest this possibility. The endothelial response does not appear to be owing to nonspecific physical interaction since similarly sized polystyrene beads did not cause any change in supernatant fibronectin levels while glutaraldehyde-fixed PMNs caused only a 20-25% increase in fibronectin levels.

Adult↗

Common senescent cell-specific antibody epitopes on fibronectin in species and cells of varied origin.

The phenomenon of in vitro cellular senescence has been demonstrated in cultured cells derived from humans and various other species. We have previously shown that monoclonal antibodies SEN-1, SEN-2, and SEN-3 react to epitopes on fibronectin that are exposed when human diploid fibroblasts become senescent. We here present results demonstrating that exposure of these epitopes is specific to senescence for a variety of human cells: epidermal keratinocytes, mammary epithelial cells, as well as fibroblasts. Fibronectin from 11 additional species was also analyzed by Western immunoblot for ability to bind the SEN antibodies. SEN-1 bound only human and gorilla fibronectin, whereas SEN-2 and SEN-3 bound fibronectin from those two species as well as the horse, cow, sheep, goat, dog, and chick. None of the antibodies reacted with fibronectin from the rabbit, rat, or mouse. These data indicated a correlation between the ability of the SEN antibodies to bind fibronectin from a particular species and the ability of cells from that species to exhibit a stable senescent phenotype in vitro. Therefore, exposure of this region of fibronectin may be important in the establishment and maintenance of cellular senescence. In addition, the ability of the SEN antibodies to react with fibronectin from a variety of senescent cells emphasizes their usefulness as markers for cellular senescence.

Animals↗

Adhesion of epithelial cells to fibronectin or collagen I induces alterations in gene expression via a protein kinase C-dependent mechanism.

Adhesion of human salivary gland (HSG) epithelial cells to fibronectin- or collagen I gel-coated substrates, mediated by beta1 integrins, has been shown to upregulate the expression of more than 30 genes within 3-6 h. Adhesion of HSG cells to fibronectin or collagen I for 6 h also enhanced total protein kinase C (PKC) activity by 1.8-2.3-fold. HSG cells expressed PKC-alpha, gamma, delta, epsilon, mu, and zeta. Adhesion of HSG cells to fibronectin or collagen I specifically activated PKC-gamma and PKC-delta. Cytoplasmic PKC-gamma and PKC-delta became membrane-associated, and immunoprecipitated PKC-gamma and PKC-delta kinase activities were enhanced 2.5-4.0-fold in HSG cells adherent to fibronectin or collagen I. In addition, adhesion of fibronectin-coated beads to HSG monolayers co-aggregated beta1 integrin and PKC-gamma and PKC-delta but not other PKC isoforms. Thus, integrin-dependent adhesion of HSG cells to fibronectin or collagen I activated PKC-gamma and PKC-delta. The role of this PKC upregulation on adhesion-responsive gene expression was then tested. HSG cells were treated with the specific PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I, cultured on non-precoated, fibronectin- or collagen I-coated substrates, and analyzed for changes in adhesion-responsive gene expression. Bisindolylmaleimide I strongly inhibited the expression of seven adhesion-responsive genes including calnexin, decorin, S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, steroid sulfatase, and 3 mitochondrial genes. However, the expression of two adhesion-responsive genes was not affected by bisindolylmaleimide I. Treatment with bisindolylmaleimide I did not affect cell spreading and did not significantly affect the actin cytoskeleton. These data suggest that adhesion of HSG cells to fibronectin or collagen I induces PKC activity and that this induction contributes to the upregulation of a variety of adhesion-responsive genes.

Cell Adhesion↗

A role for a 70-kDa amino-terminal fibronectin fragment in supporting soluble gelatin interactions with rat peritoneal macrophages.

Seventy-kilodalton amino-terminal and 180-kDa cell-binding fibronectin fragments were used to determine which fibronectin domains support soluble gelatin interactions with macrophages. At each time measured, intact and 180-kDa fibronectin supported significantly larger quantities of cell-associated gelatin than control levels (P < 0.05). Throughout the time course fibronectin supported more binding than 180 kDa. Seventy kilodalton did not augment gelatin binding until 2 h, but by 6 h 70 kDa supported more binding than intact fibronectin (P < 0.01). This appeared to result from a cellular response initiated by 70-kDa-gelatin interactions with the macrophages. Within 4 h the majority of gelatin associated with cells under control conditions, and in the presence of fibronectin or 180 kDa, was internalized. Seventy-kilodalton-mediated binding remained localized primarily to the cell surfaces at all times. The macrophages partially degraded the internalized and external gelatin fractions. These results demonstrate that intact fibronectin and specific fibronectin fragments support soluble gelatin interactions with macrophages.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fibronectin associated with the glial component of embryonic brain cell cultures.

In the basic approach to investigations of neuronal--glial interactions during both normal brain development and its pathogenesis, embryonic brain cell populations were fractionated into purified neuronal and glial components. Using separation procedures based on differential adhesion and cytotoxicity, the isolated neuronal and glial phenotypes could be identified by distinct morphological and biochemical characteristics, including the visualization of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFA) within glial cells in immunohistochemical assays with monospecific anti-GFA serum. When unfractionated cerebrum cells dissociated from 10-day chick or 14-day mouse embryos were plated as monolayers and cultured for 1--14 days, monospecific antiserum against fibronectin (LETS glycoprotein) was found to react with many, but not all, of the cells as revealed by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. The isolated neuronal and glial components of these populations were used to determine whether the appearance of membrane-associated fibronectin was characteristic of one cell type or the other, or both, and if neuronal--glial cell interaction was required for its expression. It was found that the surfaces of glial cells, completely isolated from neurons, showed an intense fluorescent reaction to the anti-fibronectin serum. In contrast, the purified neuronal cultures showed no fluorescence with either the anti-GFA or anti-fibronectin sera. These results demonstrate fibronectin as a cell surface protein associated primarily with glial cells and independent of neuronal--glial cell interaction for its expression. Furthermore, the results indicate that the fibronectin observed on glial cell surfaces in these cultures is produced endogenously and is not due to the preferential binding of fibronectin present in the culture medium. The role of fibronectin as an adhesive molecule in neuronal--glial interactions is discussed.

Animals↗

An axial periodic fibrillar arrangement of antigenic determinants for fibronectin and procollagen on ascorbate treated human fibroblasts.

Fibronectin and collagens are major constituents of the cell matrix of fibroblasts. Fibronectin is a 220,000 dalton glycoprotein that mediates a variety of adhesive functions of cells examined in vitro. Fibronectin is secreted in a soluble form and interacts with collagen to form extracellular filaments. Fibronectin and procollagen type I were localized using the peroxidase anti-peroxidase method. Under standard culture conditions, fibronectin and procollagen were localized to non-periodic 10 nm extracellular fibrils, the cell membrane and plasma membrane vesicles. Ascorbate treatment of cells leads to a new larger fibril with a diameter of approximately 40 nm. Antibodies to fibronectin and procollagen I react to these native collagen fibrils with an axial periodicity of approximately 70 nm. Fibronectin is clearly associated with native collagen fibrils produced by ascorbate treated cells and there is an asymetric distribution or segregation of fibronectin on these collagen fibrils with a 70 nm axial repeat.

Ascorbic Acid↗

Accumulation of fibronectin in articular cartilage explants cultured with TGF beta 1 and fucoidan.

Fibronectin is a glycoprotein involved in cell matrix interactions. In osteoarthritis, fibronectin levels in the lesion cartilage are elevated up to 20-fold above control levels. In these experiments, explants of disease-free cartilage cultured in the presence of a combination of TGF beta 1 and the sulfated fucopolysaccharide, fucoidan, accumulated fibronectin at levels comparable to those found in osteoarthritic lesions. TGF beta 1 increased fibronectin synthesis, most of which was released to the medium. The addition of fucoidan favored retention of the newly synthesized fibronectin within the matrix. The fibronectin which accumulated as a result of these treatments was similar to the fibronectin in normal and osteoarthritic cartilage with respect to the ED-B+ alternative splice form. No change in the proteoglycan content of the cartilage explants with elevated fibronectin levels was detected.

Animals↗

Affinity binding of distinct functional fibronectin domains to immobilized metal chelates.

Fibronectin has been found to bind metal ions. Using metal chelate chromatography and limited proteolysis to generate the distinct functional domains of fibronectin we set out to address the metal binding sites to well-defined regions of fibronectin. The results show that the affinity binding of fibronectin to Co2+ is mediated exclusively via the collagen binding domain of the molecule, whereas fibronectin will bind to Zn2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+ by metal binding sites located in two, three, and four well-defined regions of fibronectin, respectively. Fe2+ and Mn2+ chelates did not bind any of the isolated fibronectin domains. Combined metal chelate affinity chromatography opens a possibility to isolate particular fibronectin domains.

Binding Sites↗