Integrin alpha v beta 5 selectively promotes adenovirus mediated cell membrane permeabilization

Human adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) enters host cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis, an event mediated by the virus penton base binding to cell surface integrins alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5. While both alpha v integrins promote virus internalization, alpha v beta 5 is involved in the subsequent event of membrane permeabilization. Cells transfected with the beta 5 or beta 3 subunit, expressing either alpha v beta 5 and alpha v beta 3, respectively, were capable of supporting Ad2 infection to varying degrees. In this case, cells expressing alpha v beta 5 were significantly more susceptible to Ad2-induced membrane permeabilization, as well as to Ad2 infection, than cells expressing alpha v beta 3. Adenovirus-mediated gene delivery was also more efficient in cells expressing alpha v beta 5. These results suggest that the interaction of alpha v beta 5 with Ad2 penton base facilitates the subsequent step of virus penetration into the cell. These studies provide evidence for the involvement of a cellular receptor in virus- mediated membrane permeabilization and suggest a novel biological role for integrin alpha v beta 5 in the infectious pathway of a human adenovirus.     

Expression of alpha v beta 5 integrin is necessary for efficient adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in the human airway.

Recombinant adenoviruses are being evaluated for gene therapy of cystic fibrosis lung disease with the goal of reconstituting the expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in pulmonary epithelia by direct administration of the virus into the airway. The therapeutic potential of recombinant adenoviruses is limited in part by the relative inefficiency by which gene transfer occurs. This study uses a human bronchial xenograft model to study adenovirus infection in the human airway in an attempt to define the molecular events that limit gene transfer. Our studies of the human airway confirm previous observations of cell lines that have indicated a two-step process for adenovirus entry, which begins with the binding of the virus to the cell through the fiber protein and continues with internalization via interactions among cellular integrins and an RGD motif (Arg-Gly-Asp) in the penton base. Furthermore, the level of maturity of the epithelia in xenografts has a major impact on gene transfer. Undifferentiated epithelia express high levels of alpha v beta 5 integrins and are easily infected with recombinant adenoviruses; gene transfer is completely inhibited with excess fiber and partially inhibited with RGD peptide and alpha v beta 5 integrin antibody. Pseudostratified epithelia do not express alpha v beta 5 integrin in differentiated columnar cells and are relatively resistant to adenovirus-mediated gene transfer; what little gene transfer occurs is inhibited by fiber but not by RGD peptide or alpha v beta 5 integrin antibody. These studies suggest that the expression of integrins in human airway epithelia limits the efficiency of gene transfer with recombinant adenoviruses. However, low-level gene transfer can occur in fully mature epithelia through alpha v beta 5 integrin-independent pathways.     

Adenovirus interaction with distinct integrins mediates separate events in cell entry and gene delivery to hematopoietic cells.

A major impediment to the effective use of adenovirus vectors for gene therapy is a lack of knowledge of how these vectors interact with diverse cell types in vivo. Adenovirus attachment to most human cell types is mediated by the fiber protein, which binds to an as yet unidentified cell receptor. In contrast to this, we report that adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) attachment to hematopoietic cells is facilitated by interaction of the penton base protein with members of the beta2 integrin family. Adenovirus particles were capable of binding to human monocytic cells, which lack fiber receptors, and virus binding could be blocked by a soluble penton base or by a function-blocking monoclonal antibody to integrin alphaMbeta2. To confirm the role of alphaMbeta2 integrins in Ad2 binding to hematopoietic cells, we analyzed virus attachment and gene delivery to CHO cells expressing recombinant beta2 integrins. alphaMbeta2-expressing CHO cells supported 3- to 5-fold-higher levels of Ad2 binding and 5- to 10-fold-larger amounts of gene delivery than did nontransfected CHO cells, indicating that alphaMbeta2 facilitates adenovirus attachment to and infection of hematopoietic cells. While beta2 integrins promote Ad2 attachment to hematopoietic cells, further studies demonstrated that alphav integrins were required for the next step in infection, virus internalization into cell endosomes. These studies reveal a novel pathway of Ad2 infection of hematopoietic cells mediated by distinct integrins which facilitate separate events in virus entry. They also suggest a possible strategy for selective adenovirus-mediated gene delivery to hematopoietic cells.     

Multiple adenovirus serotypes use alpha v integrins for infection.

The nucleotide sequence encoding the penton base integrin-binding domains of several human adenoviruses was obtained by homology PCR. Each of the penton base proteins contains a conserved Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence that is predicted to lie at the apex of two extended alpha helices. The penton base RGD domain promotes efficient infection of host cells by multiple adenovirus serotypes via interaction with alpha v integrins, thus indicating that alpha v integrins play a central role in the entry of adenoviruses into host cells.     

Cryo-EM visualization of an exposed RGD epitope on adenovirus that escapes antibody neutralization.

Interaction of the adenovirus penton base protein with alpha v integrins promotes virus entry into host cells. The location of the integrin binding sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) on human type 2 adenovirus (Ad2) was visualized by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and image reconstruction using a mAb (DAV-1) which recognizes a linear epitope, IRGDTFATR. The sites for DAV-1 binding corresponded to the weak density above each of the five 22 A protrusions on the adenovirus penton base protein. Modeling of a Fab fragment crystal structure into the adenovirus-Fab cryo-EM density indicated a large amplitude of motion for the Fab and the RGD epitope. An unexpected finding was that Fab fragments, but not IgG antibody molecules, inhibited adenovirus infection. Steric hindrance from the adenovirus fiber and a few bound IgG molecules, as well as epitope mobility, most likely prevent binding of IgG antibodies to all five RGD sites on the penton base protein within the intact virus. These studies indicate that the structure of the adenovirus particle facilitates interaction with cell integrins, whilst restricting binding of potentially neutralizing antibodies.     

Integrin alpha5beta1-mediated adenovirus infection is enhanced by the integrin-activating antibody TS2/16.

Adenovirus internalization generally has been accepted to involve an interaction of the adenoviral penton base protein with alpha(v)beta3 and alpha(v)beta5 cell surface integrins. In this study we show that exposure of a panel of melanoma cells to the beta1-activating antibody TS2/16 rendered such cells more susceptible to adenovirus infection. This increase in adenoviral infectivity paralleled effects on cell adhesion, and both these characteristics were mediated, in part, by the alpha5beta1 integrin. These observations suggest that alpha5beta1 may act as an alternative adenovirus receptor and that integrin-activating strategies may improve the efficacy of recombinant adenoviruses as vectors for gene therapy.     

Vitronectin receptor antibodies inhibit infection of HeLa and A549 cells by adenovirus type 12 but not by adenovirus type 2.

The penton base gene from adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) was sequenced and encodes a 497-residue polypeptide, 74 residues shorter than the penton base from Ad2. The Ad2 and Ad12 proteins are highly conserved at the amino- and carboxy-terminal ends but diverge radically in the central region, where 63 residues are missing from the Ad12 sequence. Conserved within this variable region is the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD), which, in the Ad2 penton base, binds to integrins in the target cell membrane, enhancing the rate or the efficiency of infection. The Ad12 penton base was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the purified refolded protein assembled in vitro with Ad2 fibers. In contrast to the Ad2 penton base, the Ad12 protein failed to cause the rounding of adherent cells or to promote attachment of HeLa S3 suspension cells; however, A549 cells did attach to surfaces coated with either protein and pretreatment of the cells with an integrin alpha v beta 5 monoclonal antibody reduced attachment to background levels. Treatment of HeLa and A549 cells with integrin alpha v beta 3 or alpha v beta 5 monoclonal antibodies or with an RGD-containing fragment of the Ad2 penton base protein inhibited infection by Ad12 but had no effect on and in some cases enhanced infection by Ad2. Purified Ad2 fiber protein reduced the binding of radiolabeled Ad2 and Ad12 virions to HeLa and A549 cells nearly to background levels, but the concentrations of fiber that strongly inhibited infection by Ad2 only weakly inhibited Ad12 infection. These data suggest that alpha v-containing integrins alone may be sufficient to support infection by Ad12 and that this pathway is not efficiently used by Ad2.     

Integrin alpha(v)beta1 is an adenovirus coreceptor

The human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cell line, commonly used for recombinant adenovirus (Ad) propagation, does not express the Ad coreceptor alpha(v)beta3 or alpha(v)beta5 integrins, yet these cells are efficiently infected by Ad vectors. Here we demonstrate that Ad binds to HEK293 cells via the fiber receptor CAR and is subsequently internalized via interaction with integrin alpha(v)beta1. Function-blocking antibodies directed against alpha(v) or beta1, but not beta3, beta5, or alpha5, integrin subunits block Ad infection and viral endocytosis. Therefore, alpha(v)beta1 serves as a coreceptor for Ad infection, and the lack of beta3 and/or beta5 but the relatively high expression of alpha(v)beta1 integrins on certain tumor cell types may explain why these cells are readily transduced by Ad vectors.     

Enhancement of anti-DIII antibodies by the C3d derivative P28 results in lower viral titers and augments protection in mice

Background

Viruses bind to specific cellular receptors in order to infect their hosts. The specific receptors a virus uses are important factors in determining host range, cellular tropism, and pathogenesis. For adenovirus, the existing model of entry requires two receptor interactions. First, the viral fiber protein binds Coxsackie and Adenovirus Receptor (CAR), its primary cellular receptor, which docks the virus to the cell surface. Next, viral penton base engages cellular integrins, coreceptors thought to be required exclusively for internalization and not contributing to binding. However, a number of studies reporting data which conflicts with this simple model have been published. These observations have led us to question the proposed two-step model for adenovirus infection.

Results

In this study we report that cells which express little to no CAR can be efficiently transduced by adenovirus. Using competition experiments between whole virus and soluble viral fiber protein or integrin blocking peptides, we show virus binding is not dependent on fiber binding to cells but rather on penton base binding cellular integrins. Further, we find that binding to low CAR expressing cells is inhibited specifically by a blocking antibody to integrin αvβ5, demonstrating that in these cells integrin αvβ5 and not CAR is required for adenovirus attachment. The binding mediated by integrin αvβ5 is extremely high affinity, in the picomolar range.

Conclusions

Our data further challenges the model of adenovirus infection in which binding to primary receptor CAR is required in order for subsequent interactions between adenovirus and integrins to initiate viral entry. In low CAR cells, binding occurs through integrin αvβ5, a receptor previously thought to be used exclusively in internalization. We show for the first time that integrin αvβ5 can be used as an alternate binding receptor.     

Targeted adenovirus gene transfer to endothelial and smooth muscle cells by using bispecific antibodies.

A major hurdle to adenovirus (Ad)-mediated gene transfer is that the target issue lacks sufficient levels of receptors to mediate vector attachment via its fiber coat protein. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells are primary targets in gene therapy approaches to prevent restenosis following angioplasty or to promote or inhibit angiogenesis. However, Ad poorly binds and transduces these cells because of their low or undetectable levels of functional Ad fiber receptor. The Ad-binding deficiency of these cells was overcome by targeting Ad binding to alpha v integrin receptors that are sufficiently expressed by these cells. In order to target alpha v integrins, a bispecific antibody (bsAb) that comprised a monoclonal Ab to the FLAG peptide epitope, DYKDDDDK, and a monoclonal Ab to alpha v integrins was constructed. In conjunction with the bsAb, a new vector, AdFLAG, which incorporated the FLAG peptide epitope into its penton base protein was constructed. Complexing AdFLAG with the bsAb increased the beta-glucuronidase transduction of human venule endothelial cells and human intestinal smooth muscle cells by seven- to ninefold compared with transduction by AdFLAG alone. The increased transduction efficiency was shown to occur through the specific interaction of the complex with alpha v integrins. These results demonstrate that bsAbs can be successfully used to target Ad to a specific cellular receptor and thereby increase the efficiency of gene transfer.     

Integrins alpha2beta1 and alpha4beta1 can mediate SA11 rotavirus attachment and entry into cells

Most mammalian rotaviruses contain tripeptide amino acid sequences in outer capsid proteins VP4 and VP7 which have been shown to act as ligands for integrins alpha2beta1 and alpha4beta1. Peptides containing these sequences and monoclonal antibodies directed to these integrins block rotavirus infection of cells. Here we report that SA11 rotavirus binding to and infection of K562 cells expressing alpha2beta1 or alpha4beta1 integrins via transfection is increased over virus binding to and infection of cells transfected with alpha3 integrin or parent cells. The increased binding and growth were specifically blocked by a monoclonal antibody to the transfected integrin subunit but not by irrelevant antibodies. In our experiments, integrin activation with phorbol ester did not affect virus binding to cells. However, phorbol ester treatment of K562 parent and transfected cells induced endogenous gene expression of alpha2beta1 integrin, which was detectable by flow cytometry 16 h after treatment and quantitatively correlated with the increased level of SA11 virus growth observed after this time. Virus binding to K562 cells treated with phorbol ester 24 h previously and expressing alpha2beta1 was elevated over binding to control cells and was specifically blocked by the anti-alpha2 monoclonal antibody AK7. Virus growth in alpha4-transfected K562 cells which had also been induced to express alpha2beta1 integrin with phorbol ester occurred at a level approaching that in the permissive MA104 cell line. We therefore have demonstrated that two integrins, alpha2beta1 and alpha4beta1, are capable of acting as cellular receptors for SA11 rotavirus.     

Novel fiber-dependent entry mechanism for adenovirus serotype 5 in lacrimal acini

The established mechanism for infection of most cells with adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) involves fiber capsid protein binding to coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor (CAR) at the cell surface, followed by penton base capsid protein binding to alpha(v) integrins, which triggers clathrin-mediated endocytosis of the virus. Here we determined the identity of the capsid proteins responsible for mediating Ad5 entry into the acinar epithelial cells of the lacrimal gland. Ad5 transduction of primary rabbit lacrimal acinar cells was inhibited by excess Ad5 fiber or knob (terminal region of the fiber) but not excess penton base. Investigation of the interactions of recombinant Ad5 penton base, fiber, and knob with lacrimal acini revealed that the penton base capsid protein remained surface associated, while the knob domain of the fiber capsid protein was rapidly internalized. Introduction of rabbit CAR-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) into lacrimal acini under conditions that reduced intracellular CAR mRNA significantly inhibited Ad5 transduction, in contrast to a control (nonspecific) siRNA. Preincubation of Ad5 with excess heparin or pretreatment of acini with a heparinase cocktail each inhibited Ad5 transduction by a separate and apparently additive mechanism. Functional and imaging studies revealed that Ad5, fiber, and knob, but not penton base, stimulated macropinocytosis in acini and that inhibition of macropinocytosis significantly reduced Ad5 transduction of acini. However, inhibition of macropinocytosis did not reduce Ad5 uptake. We propose that internalization of Ad5 into lacrimal acini is through a novel fiber-dependent mechanism that includes CAR and heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans and that the subsequent intracellular trafficking of Ad5 is enhanced by fiber-induced macropinocytosis.     

Structural and biochemical characterization of a human adenovirus 2/12 penton base chimera

The vertex of the adenoviral capsid is formed by the penton, a complex of two proteins, the pentameric penton base and the trimeric fiber protein. The penton contains all necessary components for viral attachment and entry into the host cell. After initial attachment via the head domain of the fiber protein, the penton base interacts with cellular integrins through an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif located in a hypervariable surface loop, triggering virus internalization. In order to investigate the structural and functional role of this region, we replaced the hypervariable loop of serotype 2 with the corresponding, but much shorter, loop of serotype 12 and compared it to the wild type. Here, we report the 3.6 A crystal structure of a human adenovirus 2/12 penton base chimera crystallized as a dodecamer. The structure is generally similar to human adenovirus 2 penton base, with the main differences localized to the fiber protein-binding site. Fluorescence anisotropy assays using a trimeric fiber protein mimetic called the minifiber and wild-type human adenovirus 2 and chimeric penton base demonstrate that fiber protein binding is independent of the hypervariable loop, with a K(d) for fiber binding estimated in the 1-2 microm range. Interestingly, competition assays using labeled and unlabeled minifiber demonstrated virtually irreversible binding to the penton base, which we ascribe to a conformational change, on the basis of comparisons of all available penton base structures.     

Alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 integrins and their role in muscle precursor cell adhesion

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Functional adaptation of skeletal muscle is a requirement for different muscle groups (e.g. craniofacial, ocular and limb) to undergo site-specific changes. Such tissue remodelling depends on dynamic interactions between muscle cells and their extracellular matrix, via participation of multifunctional molecules such as integrins. In view of data suggesting a role in fundamental muscle biology and muscle development in other systems, the present study has focused on expression and function of alpha v integrins, in cultured adult human craniofacial muscle (masseter) precursor cells and myotubes, and the predominantly fibroblastic IC (interstitial cells) population. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Flow-cytometric phenotyping and immunofluorescence phenotyping show that alpha v, alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 are expressed in all mononuclear cells (muscle precursors and IC) seeded on muscle extracellular molecules such as gelatin, VN (vitronectin) and FN (fibronectin). In this system, blockade of alpha v activity using a function-perturbing antibody abrogates cell migration on VN and FN. alpha v integrins act predominantly as VN receptors as cell-substrate attachment is diminished when alpha v neutralizing agents are introduced into cultures seeded on VN, and this inhibition is reversible; these integrins also appear to be minor FN receptors. These results demonstrate that the alpha v subset of integrins present on both myogenic precursors and IC is an essential cohort of VN and, to a lesser extent, FN receptors mediating cell adhesion and, either directly or indirectly, arbiters of cell motility.     

Interaction of West Nile virus with alpha v beta 3 integrin mediates virus entry into cells

The functional receptor for the flavivirus West Nile (WNV) infection has been characterized in this study with a combination of biochemical and molecular approaches. A 105-kDa protease-sensitive glycoprotein that binds WNV was isolated from the plasma membrane of cells permissive to WNV infection. The protein was subjected to peptide sequencing, and this glycoprotein was identified as a member of the integrin superfamily. Infection of WNV was shown to be markedly inhibited in Vero cells pretreated with blocking antibodies against alpha(v)beta(3) integrin and its subunits by receptor competition assay. It was also noted that cells pretreated with antibodies against alpha(v)beta(3) integrin can effectively inhibit flavivirus Japanese encephalitis but to a lesser extent flavivirus dengue infections. West Nile virus entry is independent of divalent cations and is not highly blocked by arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptides, suggesting that the interaction between the virus and alpha(v)beta(3) integrin is not highly dependent on the classical RGD binding motif. In addition, gene silencing of the beta(3) integrin subunit in cells has resulted in cells largely resistant to WNV infection. In contrast, expression of recombinant human beta(3) integrin substantially increased the permissiveness of CS-1 melanoma cells for WNV infection. Soluble alpha(v)beta(3) integrin can also effectively block WNV infection in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, WNV infection also triggered the outside-in signaling pathway via the activation of integrin-associated focal adhesion kinase. The identification of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin as a receptor for WNV provides insight into virus-receptor interaction, hence creating opportunities in the development of anti-viral strategies against WNV infection.     

Comparative analysis of adenovirus fiber-cell interaction: adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) and Ad9 utilize the same cellular fiber receptor but use different binding strategies for attachment.

We have analyzed the binding of adenovirus (Ad) serotypes from subgroups B, C, and D through fiber-virus and fiber-fiber cross-competition experiments. Since viruses in these distinct subgroups display markedly different tropisms, it was unexpected that the subgroup C viruses Ad2 and 5 and the subgroup D virus Ad9 cross-competed for the same cellular fiber receptor. The subgroup B serotype Ad3 recognized a receptor distinct from the Ad2, 5, and 9 fiber receptor. However, despite sharing the same fiber receptor, Ad2 and Ad9 displayed markedly different binding characteristics that appeared to result from direct Ad9 binding to cells via alpha(v)-integrins. Unlike Ad2, Ad9 binding to many cell lines was not abrogated by competition with the fiber 9 knob (F9K). Ad9 binding to fiber receptor-deficient cells was blocked by a monoclonal antibody to alpha(v)-integrins. In contrast, Ad9 binding to alpha(v)-deficient cells that express fiber receptor was blocked by F9K. Transfection of an alpha(v)-integrin-deficient cell line with a plasmid that expresses alpha(v)beta5 resulted in Ad9 binding that was not significantly blocked by F9K but was blocked with a combination of F9K and penton base. These results imply that the shorter length of fiber 9 (11 nm) relative to fiber 2 (37 nm) permits fiber-independent binding of Ad9 penton base to alpha(v)-integrins. The difference in fiber length may explain the different binding characteristics and tissue tropisms of each virus despite both utilizing the same fiber and penton base receptors.     

Integrins alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 contribute to cell attachment to vitronectin but differentially distribute on the cell surface

We investigated the role of the integrins alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 in mediating vitronectin adhesion of three phenotypically distinct cell types. M21 human melanoma cells and H2981 lung carcinoma cells use both alpha v-containing integrins in adhering to vitronectin while UCLA-P3 lung carcinoma cells adhere exclusively with alpha v beta 5. Specifically, monoclonal antibodies directed to functional epitopes on both receptors were required to block adhesion of M21 or H2981 cells while adhesion of UCLA-P3 cells to vitronectin could be blocked with a monoclonal antibody to alpha v beta 5. Although both receptors are involved in M21 and H2981 cell adhesion to vitronectin, only alpha v beta 3 can be detected in focal contacts, colocalizing with vinculin, talin, and the ends of actin filaments, while alpha v beta 5 shows a distinct, nonfocal contact, distribution on the cell surface. These results provide the first evidence that two homologous integrins that recognize the same ligand distribute differentially on the cell surface.     

Mechanisms and consequences of affinity modulation of integrin alpha(V)beta(3) detected with a novel patch-engineered monovalent ligand.

Integrin alpha(V)beta(3) mediates diverse responses in vascular cells, ranging from cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation to uptake of adenoviruses. However, the extent to which alpha(V)beta(3) is regulated by changes in receptor conformation (affinity), receptor diffusion/clustering (avidity), or post-receptor events is unknown. Affinity regulation of the related integrin, alpha(IIb)beta(3), has been established using a monovalent ligand-mimetic antibody, PAC1 Fab. To determine the role of affinity modulation of alpha(V)beta(3), a novel monovalent ligand-mimetic antibody (WOW-1) was created by replacing the heavy chain hypervariable region 3 of PAC1 Fab with a single alpha(V) integrin-binding domain from multivalent adenovirus penton base. Both WOW-1 Fab and penton base bound selectively to activated alpha(V)beta(3), but not to alpha(IIb)beta(3), in receptor and cell binding assays. alpha(V)beta(3) affinity varied with the cell type. Unstimulated B-lymphoblastoid cells bound WOW-1 Fab poorly (apparent K(d) = 2.4 microM), but acute stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate increased receptor affinity >30-fold (K(d) = 80 nM), with no change in receptor number. In contrast, alpha(V)beta(3) in melanoma cells was constitutively active, but ligand binding could be suppressed by overexpression of beta(3) cytoplasmic tails. Up-regulation of alpha(V)beta(3) affinity had functional consequences in that it increased cell adhesion and spreading and promoted adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. These studies establish that alpha(V)beta(3) is subject to rapid regulated changes in affinity that influence the biological functions of this integrin.     

The vitronectin receptor alpha v beta 3 binds fibronectin and acts in concert with alpha 5 beta 1 in promoting cellular attachment and spreading on fibronectin

The vitronectin receptor (alpha v beta 3) is a member of the integrin superfamily of adhesive protein receptors that mediate a wide spectrum of adhesive cellular interactions, including attachment to vitronectin, von Willebrand factor, fibrinogen, and thrombospondin. We have studied the binding of fibronectin to the purified vitronectin receptor, and the role of this receptor in the attachment of cells to fibronectin. A solid-phase microtiter assay was developed to investigate the binding properties of the vitronectin receptor. Purified alpha v beta 3 bound fibronectin with high affinity in a saturable, divalent cation- dependent manner. Binding was inhibited by soluble vitronectin, by RGD- containing peptides, and by LM609, a monoclonal antibody against the vitronectin receptor known to inhibit the binding of adhesive proteins to alpha v beta 3. Immunoinhibition experiments showed that M21 human melanoma cells, which express the fibronectin receptor, alpha 5 beta 1, as well as alpha v beta 3, used both of these integrins to attach and spread on fibronectin. In support of this finding, M21-L cells, a variant cell line that specifically lacks alpha v beta 3 but expresses alpha v beta 1, attached and spread poorly on fibronectin. In addition, alpha v beta 3 from surface-labeled M21 cells was retained, and selectively eluted by RGDS from a fibronectin affinity column. These results indicate that alpha v beta 3 acts in concert with alpha 5 beta 1 in promoting fibronectin recognition by these cells. We conclude that fibronectin binds to the alpha v beta 3 vitronectin receptor specifically and with high affinity, and that this interaction is biologically relevant in supporting cell adhesion to matrix proteins.     

Canine adenovirus type 2 attachment and internalization: coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor, alternative receptors, and an RGD-independent pathway

The best-characterized receptors for adenoviruses (Ads) are the coxsackievirus-Ad receptor (CAR) and integrins alpha(v)beta(5) and alpha(v)beta(3), which facilitate entry. The alpha(v) integrins recognize an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif found in some extracellular matrix proteins and in the penton base in most human Ads. Using a canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) vector, we found that CHO cells that express CAR but not wild-type CHO cells are susceptible to CAV-2 transduction. Cells expressing alpha(M)beta(2) integrins or major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules but which do not express CAR were not transduced. Binding assays showed that CAV-2 attaches to a recombinant soluble form of CAR and that Ad type 5 (Ad5) fiber, penton base, and an anti-CAR antibody partially blocked attachment. Using fluorescently labeled CAV-2 particles, we found that in some cells nonpermissive for transduction, inhibition was at the point of internalization and not attachment. The transduction efficiency of CAV-2, which lacks an RGD motif, surprisingly mimicked that of Ad5 when tested in cells selectively expressing alpha(v)beta(5) and alpha(v)beta(3) integrins. Our results demonstrate that CAV-2 transduction is augmented by CAR and possibly by alpha(v)beta(5), though transduction can be CAR and alpha(v)beta(3/5) independent but is alpha(M)beta(2), MHC-I, and RGD independent, demonstrating a transduction mechanism which is distinct from that of Ad2/5.