Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Integrin beta1”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,063 records · Page 59Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Integrin-linked kinase functions as a downstream mediator of endothelin-1 to promote invasive behavior in ovarian carcinoma.

The endothelin-1 (ET-1) axis represents a novel target in several malignancies, including ovarian carcinoma. Upon being activated, the endothelin A receptor (ET(A)R) mediates multiple tumor-promoting activities, including mitogenesis, escape from apoptosis, angiogenesis, metastasis-related protease activation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and invasion. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a multidomain focal adhesion protein that conveys intracellular signaling elicited by beta1-integrin and growth factor receptors. In this study, we investigate whether the signaling triggered by ET(A)R leading to an aggressive phenotype is mediated by an ILK-dependent mechanism. In HEY and OVCA 433 ovarian carcinoma cell lines, activation of ET(A)R by ET-1 enhances the expression of alpha2beta1 and alpha3beta1 integrins. ILK activity increases as ovarian cancer cells adhere to type I collagen through beta1 integrin signaling, and do so to a greater extent on ET-1 stimulation. ET-1 increases ILK mRNA and protein expression and activity in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. An ILK small-molecule inhibitor (KP-392) or transfection with a dominant-negative ILK mutant effectively blocks the phosphorylation of downstream signals, Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta. The blockade of ET-1/ET(A)R-induced ILK activity results in an inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase activation as well as of cell motility and invasiveness in a phosphoinositide 3 kinase-dependent manner. In ovarian carcinoma xenografts, ABT-627, a specific ET(A)R antagonist, suppresses ILK expression, Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta phosphorylation, and tumor growth. These data show that ILK functions as a downstream mediator of the ET-1/ET(A)R axis to potentiate aggressive cellular behavior. Thus, the ILK-related signaling cascade can be efficiently targeted by pharmacologic blockade of ET(A)R.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Integrins control motile strategy through a Rho-cofilin pathway.

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

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed2003

Latent transforming growth factor-beta-binding protein 2 is an adhesion protein for melanoma cells.

Of the four latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-binding proteins (LTBPs), LTBP-2 is different in the respect that it does not bind small latent forms of TGF-beta. LTBP-2 is therefore likely to have other roles in the extracellular matrix. LTBP-2 contains an RGD putative integrin recognition site, suggesting a role in cell adhesion. We carried out a study on cell attachment to LTBP-2. Purified recombinant LTBP-2 was used as substratum in cell adhesion and migration studies. We found that, unlike most adherent cell lines, all of the melanoma cell lines tested adhered to LTBP-2 very efficiently and in a concentration-dependent manner. Bowes melanoma cells bound most efficiently to LTBP-2 and were used for further characterization. Cell adhesion assays with recombinant LTBP-2 fragments indicated that the adhesive site is located in an N-terminal region of LTBP-2. The attachment of melanoma cells to LTBP-2 was prevented with monoclonal antibody against beta1 integrin in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting an important role for beta1 integrin in the process. Antibodies against integrin subunits alpha3 and alpha6 decreased melanoma cell adhesion as well. The beta1 and alpha3 integrins were localized on the cell surface, especially in lamellipodia, as observed by immunofluorescence. In addition to integrin antagonists, heparin also markedly decreased melanoma cell adhesion. LTBP-2 also supported Bowes cell migration in modified Boyden chamber assays in a manner similar to the migration on fibronectin. Current data indicate that LTBP-2 can play a role in melanoma cell adhesion.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed1998

The cation-binding domain from the alpha subunit of integrin alpha5 beta1 is a minimal domain for fibronectin recognition.

The cation-binding domain from the alpha subunit of human integrin alpha5beta1 was produced as a recombinant protein, alpha5-(229-448). This protein displays a well defined fold with a content of 30-35% alpha-helix and 20-25% beta-strand, based on circular dichroism. The binding of Ca2+ or Mg2+ to alpha5-(229-448) results in a biphasic conformational rearrangement consistent with the occurrence of two classes of cation-binding sites differing by their affinities. The two classes of sites are located in two conformationally independent lobes, as established by a parallel study of two recombinant half-domains (N- and C-terminal) that also adopt stable folds. Upon saturation with divalent cations, alpha5-(229-448) binds an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing fibronectin ligand to form a 1:1 complex. Complex formation is associated with a specific conformational adaptation of the ligand, suggesting an induced fit mechanism. In contrast, neither of the half-domains is competent for ligand binding. The alpha5-(229-448)-fibronectin complex is dissociated in the presence of an RGD peptide, as well as of a simple carboxylic acid, suggesting that the RGD aspartyl carboxylate is an essential element that directly interacts with the alpha5 cation-binding domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Annexins expressed on the cell surface serve as receptors for adhesion to immobilized fetuin-A.

Fetuin-A is a major constituent of the fetal bovine serum used extensively in cell culture media. We hereby present data demonstrating that breast carcinoma cells can adhere to immobilized fetuin-A in a calcium-dependent fashion. Interestingly, the cells can also divide and attain confluency under these conditions. Using a proteomic approach, we have identified annexin-II and -VI as the putative cell surface receptors for fetuin-A in the presence of Ca2+ ions. Biotinylation of cell surface proteins followed by immunoprecipitation revealed that annexin-VI was expressed on the extracytoplasmic surface of the cell membranes. Finally, to demonstrate that annexin-II and -VI were the adhesive receptors for fetuin-A, siRNA knockdown of expression of the annexins significantly reduced the calcium-mediated adhesion. Interestingly, we demonstrated that the tumor cells could also adhere to immobilized fetuin-A in the presence of magnesium ions, and that this adhesion was most likely mediated by integrins because neutralizing antibodies against beta1 integrins substantially reduced the adhesion. Our studies suggest that the expression of annexin-II and -VI and possibly other members of the family mediate novel adhesion and signaling mechanisms in tumor cells.

Annexin A2↗
PubMed2005

Partial enrichment of a population of human limbal epithelial cells with putative stem cell properties based on collagen type IV adhesiveness.

The concept that corneal epithelium stem cells reside in limbus has been recognized for more than a decade, but isolation of these stem cells has not been accomplished. This study was an initial attempt to isolate a population of human limbal epithelial cells enriched for certain putative stem cell properties based on their phenotype. Epithelial cells harvested from fresh human limbal rings and their primary cultures were allowed to adhere to collagen IV-coated dishes for 20 min and 2 hr, sequentially. The rapidly adherent cells (RAC), slowly adherent cells and non-adherent cells were evaluated for certain stem cell properties: (a) BrdU-label retention, (b) expression of basal cell (integrin beta1, p63, ABCG2) and differentiation (involucrin, keratin 12) markers, and (c) colony forming efficiency (CFE) and growth capacity on a 3T3 fibroblast feeder layer. Among unfractionated cells and the three selected populations, the RAC, accounting for about 10% of whole population, were enriched 5-fold in BrdU label-retaining cells, displayed the highest number of integrin beta1 and p63 positive and involucrin negative cells, expressed high levels of DeltaNp63 and ABCG2 mRNA, and lacked involucrin and K12 expression, and possessed the greatest CFE and growth capacity. These findings demonstrated for the first time that human limbal epithelial cells with stem cell properties can be partially enriched by their adhesiveness to collagen IV. The RAC population enriched for certain putative stem cell properties may prove useful in the future for transplantation to diseased and damaged corneas with limbal stem cell deficiency.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Mem↗
PubMed1998

Binding of the cysteine proteinases papain and cathepsin B-like to coated laminin: use of synthetic peptides from laminin and from the laminin binding region of the beta 1 integrin subunit to characterize the binding site.

Cysteine proteinases of the papain superfamily, i.e., papain and cathepsin B-like proteinase, were found to be able to bind to laminin-coated wells. When papain and cathepsin B-like proteinase were used, saturable binding curves were found. The characterization of the binding site was carried out using synthetic peptides which corresponded to the most relevant functional sites of laminin and an octapeptide from the laminin binding region of the beta1 integrin subunit. In binding experiments, the decapeptide RNIAEIIKDI and the pentapeptide YIGSR were able to displace papain and cathepsin B-like proteinase from coated laminin. Nevertheless, the integrin beta1 peptide DLYYLMDL was the most powerful in the same experimental system. From these results, the C-terminal region of this cross-shaped protein, i.e., the end of the long arm, and the region including the YIGSR sequence of the short arm of the beta chain would be the cysteine proteinase binding site. This binding site is probably the result of the network organization of laminin which brings two regions, separated on a single laminin molecule, into proximity. In previous work, digestion of basement membranes has been found to be associated with the binding of cysteine proteinases to these supramolecular structures [N. Guinec, V. Dalet-Fumeron, and M. Pagano (1992) FEBS Lett. 308, 305-308]. The present report demonstrates that laminin is the cysteine proteinase binding protein of basement membranes. This property of laminin could be associated with tumor invasion and other tissue remodeling processes linked to proteolysis of basement membranes and extracellular matrices.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

CD98hc (SLC3A2) mediates integrin signaling.

Integrins regulate cellular behaviors through signaling pathways, including Rho GTPases and kinases. CD98 heterodimers, comprised of a heavy chain (CD98hc, SLC3A2) and one of several light chains, interact with integrins through CD98hc. CD98hc overexpression leads to anchorage-independent cell growth and tumorigenesis in 3T3 fibroblasts and activates certain integrin-regulated signaling pathways. To establish the biological function of CD98hc, we disrupted the gene and analyzed CD98hc-null cells. Here we report that CD98hc contributes to integrin-dependent cell spreading, cell migration, and protection from apoptosis. Furthermore, CD98hc is required for efficient adhesion-induced activation of Akt and Rac GTPase, major contributors to the integrin-dependent signals involved in cell survival and cell migration. CD98 promotes amino acid transport through its light chains; however, a CD98hc mutant that interacts with beta1 integrins, but not CD98 light chains, restored integrin-dependent signaling and protection from apoptosis. beta1 integrins are involved in the pathogenesis of certain cancers. CD98hc deletion markedly impaired the ability of embryonic stem cells to form teratocarcinomas in mice; teratocarcinoma formation was reconstituted by reexpression of CD98hc or of the mutant that interacts exclusively with integrins. Thus, CD98hc is an integrin-associated protein that mediates integrin-dependent signals, which promote tumorigenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Differential regulation of Rho GTPases by beta1 and beta3 integrins: the role of an extracellular domain of integrin in intracellular signaling.

Integrins mediate cell adhesion and signal transduction at focal adhesions. Here we investigate the roles of integrin beta subunits in the regulation of actin cytoskeletal structure and the activities of Rho and Rac. The overexpression of beta3 integrin in Chinese hamster ovary cells enhances Rho activity and stress fiber formation, whereas the overexpression of beta1 integrin increases Rac activity and lamellipodia formation. The overexpression of a mutant beta1-3-1 integrin, in which the extracellular I-domain-like sequence of beta1 integrin has been replaced with the corresponding sequence of beta3 integrin, also enhances Rho activity and the formation of stress fibers. Our results demonstrate that beta1 and beta3 integrins differentially regulate the activities of Rho family GTPases and that the extracellular domains of integrin beta subunits play a critical role in transducing the extracellular ligand-binding information into specific intracellular signaling events.

Actins↗
PubMed1997

Gamma-interferon inhibits Pneumocystis carinii attachment to lung cells by decreasing expression of lung cell-surface integrins.

Pneumocystis carinii (PC) is a leading cause of pneumonia in immunocompromised patients. Previous work has shown that fibronectin (Fn) and Fn-binding integrins mediate PC attachment to lung cells in vitro. Gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) is a major factor in host defence against PC infection. To determine the effect of gamma-IFN on PC attachment to lung cells, the alveolar epithelial cell line A549 was incubated with gamma-IFN (0-10(4) U mL(-1)) and attachment of 51Cr-labelled PC to the A549 cells was quantified. PC attachment was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) by addition of gamma-IFN with no evidence of injury to either the PC or A549 cells. Effects of gamma-IFN on PC attachment were observed after 24 h and reached a maximum after 48 h of incubation. To investigate the mechanism of this decrease, we examined integrin expression on gamma-IFN-treated A549 cells. A549 cell expression of the alpha5 and beta1 integrin subunits was decreased, whereas expression of the alpha(v) subunit was unchanged. Northern blot analysis showed a similar decrease in mRNA for the alpha5 and beta1 integrins. Therefore, gamma-IFN-mediated inhibition of PC infection may, in part, result from inhibition of PC attachment to alveolar epithelial cells caused by gamma-IFN-induced decreases in alveolar integrin expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

BCR/ABL-induced leukemogenesis causes phosphorylation of Hef1 and its association with Crkl.

BCR/ABL is considered responsible for the development of Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemia. Experimental animal models, such as transgenic mice, have demonstrated unambiguously that Bcr/Abl is capable of inducing leukemogenesis. The adaptor molecule Crkl is a major in vivo substrate of the deregulated Bcr/Abl tyrosine kinase and functions as a molecular link with other signaling proteins. While associated in vivo with Bcr/Abl through its SH3 domain, Crkl can interact simultaneously via its SH2 domain with other tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. Here we report the identification of prominently tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins with a molecular mass of approximately 110 kDa, which bind specifically to the Crkl SH2 domain in leukemic tissues of P190BCR/ABL transgenic mice. We demonstrate that these proteins are identical to Hef1/Cas-L, which is related to p130(Cas). The proto-oncoprotein p120(Cbl) and Hef1, but not p130(Cas), were detectably phosphorylated on tyrosine in P190Bcr/Abl-expressing leukemic cells and were found in complex with Crkl, showing the existence of protein complexes in P190Bcr/Abl leukemic cells, consisting of P190Bcr/Abl, Crkl, and Hef1 or p120(Cbl). This supports a model in which Crkl acts as mediator between Bcr/Abl and downstream effectors. Since Hef1 is involved in the beta1-integrin signaling pathway, our study demonstrates that Bcr/Abl could specifically interfere with normal beta1-integrin signaling.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed2001

Topographic changes of focal adhesion components and modulation of p125FAK activation in stretched human periodontal ligament fibroblasts.

Mechanical stress has been shown in vitro to modulate integrin-beta1-mediated activation of p125FAK/FAK. To test the hypothesis whether this also applies to periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLs), we subjected human PDLs to mechanical stretch and analyzed stress-induced changes of p125FAK activation by quantitative immunoprecipitation of p125FAK and changes in the topography of molecules localizing in focal adhesions by indirect immunofluorescence. Generally, all components of focal contacts under study-including detection of phosphotyrosine, i.e., integrin-beta1, p125FAK, and paxillin-revealed a relative co-localization during stretch application. Under stretch, we observed a re-distribution of all components from the cell periphery to the cytoplasm following the main axes. Tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK was monitored up to 72 hours under stretch. While the amount of p125FAK remained essentially constant, the activation of p125FAK was clearly modulated. Tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK increased from 15 minutes up to 1 hour and declined after stretching periods of 24, 48, and 72 hours. The analysis of our data indicated a stretch-induced redistribution of focal adhesion components and a modulation of p125FAK activation, suggesting alterations in focal adhesions and their associated signal cascade.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1999

Immunohistochemical localization of laminin-1 in the acellular nerve grafts is associated with migrating Schwann cells which display corresponding integrin receptors.

The presence of laminin-1, collagen-IV, alpha6 and beta1 integrin chains was detected by indirect immunohistochemistry using biotin/streptavidin/HRP or gold-conjugated secondary antibody at the light and electron microscope level, respectively. Cryo-treated segment of the peripheral stump without living Schwann cells (S-100-) did not display immunoreactivity for laminin-1 and integrin's chains, while the migrating Schwann cells in the marginal regions were immunostained for the antigens. Isolated acellular nerve segments protected from migration of Schwann cells (S-100-) exhibited laminin-1-, beta1-, and alpha6- integrin chains immunoreactivities. Position of the basal lamina was verified by collagen-IV+ immunoreactivity. Results indicate that presence of the laminin in the peripheral nerve is related with living Schwann cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Adhesion molecules and TGF-beta1 are involved in the peritoneal dissemination of NUGC-4 human gastric cancer cells.

Peritoneal dissemination frequently occurs after surgery in patients with gastric cancer. The presence of peritoneal metastasis after surgery affects prognosis. Very little is known about the biochemical processes involved in the initial attachment of gastric cancer cells to peritoneal mesothelial cells. We conducted in vitro and in vivo studies to assess the role of adhesion molecules and TGF-beta1 in this process, using 4 cell lines derived from human gastric cancers. NUGC-4 cells, which disseminate early after inoculation into the abdominal cavity of nude mice, predominantly express CD44H and beta1 integrin. We found that NUGC-4 cells adhered to monolayers of mesothelial cells more firmly than to other cell lines. Adhesion of NUGC-4 cells to mesothelial cells was partially inhibited by antibodies against CD44H or the beta1 subunit of integrin and was completely blocked by a combination of these 2 antibodies. Treatment with ligands for CD44H and beta1 integrin also inhibited adhesion. In the NUGC-4 cell culture medium, larger amounts of TGF-beta1 were detected in relation to the increase in cancer cells than in the other cell lines. TGF-beta1 increased the expression of CD44H in NUGC-4 cells and in mesothelial cells and augmented adhesion and implantation of NUGC-4 cells to mesothelial cells accompanied by accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Treatment with antibodies against both CD44H and beta1 integrin inhibited the dissemination of NUGC-4 cells in the peritoneal cavity of nude mice and prolonged their survival time. Our findings suggest that CD44H and integrins mediate the initial attachment of gastric cancer cells to mesothelial cells and that TGF-beta1 participates in the promotion of the disease. Increased expression of CD44H and of the amount of ligands for CD44H and integrins induced by TGF-beta1 promotes early development of peritoneal dissemination.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Laminin activates CaMK-II to stabilize nascent embryonic axons.

In neurons, the interaction of laminin with its receptor, beta1 integrin, is accompanied by an increase in cytosolic Ca2+. Neuronal behavior is influenced by CaMK-II, the type II Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, which is enriched in axons of mouse embryonic neurons. In this study, we sought to determine whether CaMK-II is activated by laminin, and if so, how CaMK-II influences axonal growth and stability. Axons grew up to 200 microm within 1 day of plating P19 embryoid bodies on laminin-1 (EHS laminin). Activated CaMK-II was found enriched along the axon and in the growth cone as detected using a phospho-Thr(287) specific CaMK-II antibody. beta1 integrin was found in a similar pattern along the axon and in the growth cone. Direct inhibition of CaMK-II in 1-day-old neurons immediately froze growth cone dynamics, disorganized F-actin and ultimately led to axon retraction. Collapsed axonal remnants exhibited diminished phospho-CaMK-II levels. Treatment of 1-day neurons with a beta1 integrin-blocking antibody (CD29) also reduced axon length and phospho-CaMK-II levels and, like CaMK-II inhibitors, decreased CaMK-II activation. Among several CaMK-II variants detected in these cultures, the 52-kDa delta variant preferentially associated with actin and beta 3 tubulin as determined by reciprocal immunoprecipitation. Our findings indicate that persistent activation of delta CaMK-II by laminin stabilizes nascent embryonic axons through its influence on the actin cytoskeleton.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed2005

Citrullination of fibronectin in rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue.

OBJECTIVES: Citrullination, catalysed by peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD), is the post-translational modification of peptidylarginine to citrulline, which is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fibronectin (Fn), a large glycoprotein, is expressed at high levels in arthritic joints and it mediates various physiological processes through interactions with cell-surface integrin receptors and growth factors. We investigated the citrullination of Fn and its potential contribution to the pathogenesis of RA. METHODS: We localized Fn expression and citrullination in RA synovial tissue by immunohistochemistry, immunoprecipitation and western blotting. We also determined levels of citrullinated Fn in plasma from RA patients using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). After incubating Fn with rabbit skeletal muscle PAD, we examined the binding ability of citrullinated Fn to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and integrin beta1 using a solid-phase receptor binding assay as well as the effect of the citrullinated Fn on apoptosis using cultured HL-60 cells. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry and western blotting analysis indicated that Fn formed extracellular aggregates that were specifically citrullinated in RA synovial tissue. No Fn deposits were observed in synovial tissues of osteoarthritis (OA). Sandwich ELISA detected higher levels of citrullinated Fn in plasma from patients with RA than from healthy controls or those with systemic lupus erythematosus. Following citrullination in vitro, the affinity of Fn for VEGF increased, but binding activity to integrin beta1 decreased and Fn no longer stimulated the apoptosis of monocytes induced from cultured HL-60 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the citrullination of Fn is a specific event for RA synovium, although others have detected citrullinated total proteins in inflamed synovial tissue of RA and non-RA patients. Citrullination of Fn could alter interactions between Fn and its receptors and growth factors, consequently contributing to mechanisms of RA pathogenesis such as perturbed angiogenesis and apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2005

Prospective characterization of neural stem cells by flow cytometry analysis using a combination of surface markers.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) with self-renewal and multilineage differentiation properties can potentially repair degenerating or damaged neural tissue. Here, we have enriched NSCs from neurospheres, which make up a heterogeneous population, by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) with antibodies against syndecan-1, Notch-1, and integrin-beta1, which were chosen as candidates for hematopoietic cell-or somatic stem cell-markers. Antigen-positive cells readily initiated neurosphere formation, but cells lacking these markers did so less readily. Doubly positive cells expressing both syndecan-1 and Notch-1 underwent neurosphere formation more efficiently than did singly positive cells. The progeny of sorted cells could differentiate into neurons and glial cells both in vitro and in vivo. These antibodies were also useful for isolating cells from the murine embryonic day 14.5 brain that efficiently formed neurospheres. In contrast, there was no distinct difference in neurosphere formation efficiency between Hoechst 33342-stained side population cells and main population cells, although the former are known to have a stem cell phenotype in various tissues. These results indicate the usefulness of syndecan-1, Notch-1, and integrin-beta1 as NSC markers.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Suppression of p53 function in normal human mammary epithelial cells increases sensitivity to extracellular matrix-induced apoptosis.

Little is known about the fate of normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs) that lose p53 function in the context of extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived growth and polarity signals. Retrovirally mediated expression of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E6 and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) were used to suppress p53 function in HMECs as a model of early breast cancer. p53+ HMEC vector controls grew exponentially in reconstituted ECM (rECM) until day 6 and then underwent growth arrest on day 7. Ultrastructural examination of day 7 vector controls revealed acinus-like structures characteristic of normal mammary epithelium. In contrast, early passage p53- HMEC cells proliferated in rECM until day 6 but then underwent apoptosis on day 7. p53- HMEC-E6 passaged in non-rECM culture rapidly (8-10 passages), lost sensitivity to both rECM-induced growth arrest and polarity, and also developed resistance to rECM-induced apoptosis. Resistance was associated with altered expression of alpha3-integrin. Treatment of early passage p53- HMEC-E6 cells with either alpha3- or beta1-integrin function-blocking antibodies inhibited rECM-mediated growth arrest and induction of apoptosis. Our results indicate that suppression of p53 expression in HMECs by HPV-16 E6 and ODNs may sensitize cells to rECM-induced apoptosis and suggest a role for the alpha3/beta1-heterodimer in mediating apoptosis in HMECs grown in contact with rECM.

Antigens, CD↗