Rhodocetin antagonizes stromal tumor invasion in vitro and other alpha2beta1 integrin-mediated cell functions.

The pleiotropic effects of Calloselasma rhodostoma venom is caused by various toxins, among them kistrin and ancrod, which block platelet activation triggered by RGD-dependent integrins and the blood clotting cascade, respectively. Here, we demonstrate that rhodocetin, another component of this venom, acts as alpha2beta1 integrin inhibiting disintegrin and antagonizes important cellular responses to type I collagen. Cell adhesion, migration, and collagen lattice contraction in vitro were specifically inhibited by rhodocetin, whereas expression of collagen-degrading matrix metalloproteases was differently modulated. Moreover, cell invasion of HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells into a type I collagen matrix, but not into a fibrin gel or a basement membrane-extracted matrigel was efficiently blocked by rhodocetin. Unlike its natural ligand collagen, rhodocetin failed to cluster alpha2beta1 integrin, despite similar binding affinities. Hence, in the absence of focal adhesions cells do not attach firmly to rhodocetin and do not respond with any of alpha2beta1-triggered cell reactions, except for MMP-1 production. Therefore, this disintegrin may be a valuable tool to specifically target stromal tumor invasion and to manipulate other alpha2beta1 integrin-mediated functions, such as excessive scar contraction and fibrosis. Rhodocetin might be therapeutically useful because of its lack of interference with RGD-dependent integrins, low molecular mass, high solubility, and biochemical stability.     

Rhodocytin (aggretin) activates platelets lacking alpha(2)beta(1) integrin, glycoprotein VI, and the ligand-binding domain of glycoprotein Ibalpha

Although alpha(2)beta(1) integrin (glycoprotein Ia/IIa) has been established as a platelet collagen receptor, its role in collagen-induced platelet activation has been controversial. Recently, it has been demonstrated that rhodocytin (also termed aggretin), a snake venom toxin purified from the venom of Calloselasma rhodostoma, induces platelet activation that can be blocked by monoclonal antibodies against alpha(2)beta(1) integrin. This finding suggested that clustering of alpha(2)beta(1) integrin by rhodocytin is sufficient to induce platelet activation and led to the hypothesis that collagen may activate platelets by a similar mechanism. In contrast to these findings, we provided evidence that rhodocytin does not bind to alpha(2)beta(1) integrin. Here we show that the Cre/loxP-mediated loss of beta(1) integrin on mouse platelets has no effect on rhodocytin-induced platelet activation, excluding an essential role of alpha(2)beta(1) integrin in this process. Furthermore, proteolytic cleavage of the 45-kDa N-terminal domain of glycoprotein (GP) Ibalpha either on normal or on beta(1)-null platelets had no significant effect on rhodocytin-induced platelet activation. Moreover, mouse platelets lacking both alpha(2)beta(1) integrin and the activating collagen receptor GPVI responded normally to rhodocytin. Finally, even after additional proteolytic removal of the 45-kDa N-terminal domain of GPIbalpha rhodocytin induced aggregation of these platelets. These results demonstrate that rhodocytin induces platelet activation by mechanisms that are fundamentally different from those induced by collagen.     

Isolation and characterization of EMS16, a C-lectin type protein from Echis multisquamatus venom, a potent and selective inhibitor of the alpha2beta1 integrin

We have isolated and characterized EMS16, a potent and selective inhibitor of the alpha2beta1 integrin, from Echis multisquamatus venom. It belongs to the family of C-lectin type of proteins (CLPs), and its amino acid sequence is homologous with other members of this protein family occurring in snake venoms. EMS16 (M(r) approximately 33K) is a heterodimer composed of two distinct subunits linked by S-S bonds. K562 cells transfected with alpha2 integrin selectively adhere to immobilized EMS16, but not to two other snake venom-derived CLPs, echicetin and alboaggregin B. EMS16 inhibits adhesion of alpha2beta1-expressing cells to immobilized collagen I at picomolar concentrations, and the platelet/collagen I interaction in solution at nanomolar concentrations. EMS16 inhibits binding of isolated, recombinant I domain of alpha2 integrin to collagen in an ELISA assay, but not the interaction of isolated I domain of alpha1 integrin with collagen IV. Studies with monoclonal antibodies suggested that EMS16 binds to the alpha2 subunit of the integrin. EMS16 inhibits collagen-induced platelet aggregation, but has no effect on aggregation induced by other agonists such as ADP, thromboxane analogue (U46619), TRAP, or convulxin. EMS16 also inhibits collagen-induced, but not convulxin-induced, platelet cytosolic Ca(2+) mobilization. In addition, EMS16 inhibits HUVEC migration in collagen I gel. In conclusion, we report a new, potent viper venom-derived inhibitor of alpha2beta1 integrin, which does not belong to the disintegrin family.     

Rhodocetin, a novel platelet aggregation inhibitor from the venom of Calloselasma rhodostoma (Malayan pit viper): synergistic and noncovalent interaction between its subunits.

A novel platelet aggregation inhibitor, rhodocetin, was purified from the crude venom of Calloselasma rhodostoma. It inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 41 nM. Rhodocetin has a heterodimeric structure with alpha and beta subunits, which could be separated on a nonreducing denaturing gel or reverse-phase HPLC column. Individually neither subunit inhibited platelet aggregation even at 2.0 microM concentration. Titration and reconstitution experiments showed that, when these subunits are mixed to give a 1:1 complex, most of its biological activity was recovered. The reconstituted complex inhibited platelet aggregation with an IC50 of 112 nM, about 3-fold less effective than the native molecule. Circular dichroism analysis revealed that the reconstituted complex had a spectrum similar to that of the native protein. By using surface plasmon resonance studies, we established that the stoichiometry of binding between the two subunits is 1:1 and the subunits interact with a Kd of 0.14 +/- 0.04 microM. The complete amino acid sequences of the alpha (15956.16 Da, 133 residues) and beta (15185.10 Da, 129 residues) subunits show a high degree of homology with each other (49%) and with the Ca2+-dependent lectin-related proteins (CLPs) (typically 29-48%) isolated from other snake venoms. Unlike the other members of the family in which the subunits are held together by an interchain disulfide bond, rhodocetin subunits are held together only through noncovalent interactions. The cysteinyl residues forming the intersubunit disulfide bridge in all other known CLPs are replaced by Ser-79 and Arg-75 in the alpha and beta subunits of rhodocetin, respectively. These studies support the noncovalent and synergistic interactions between the two subunits of rhodocetin. This is the first reported CLP dimer with such a novel heterodimeric structure.     

The reprolysin jararhagin,a snake venom metalloproteinase,functions as a fibrillar collagen agonist involved in fibroblast cell adhesion and signaling

The integrins alpha(2)beta(1) and alpha(1)beta(1) have been shown to modulate cellular activities of fibroblasts on contact with fibrillar collagen. Previously it has been shown that collagen binding to alpha(2)beta(1) regulates matrix metalloproteinase MMP-1 and membrane-type MT1-MMP expression. Jararhagin is a snake venom metalloproteinase of the Reprolysin family of zinc metalloproteinases, containing a metalloproteinase domain followed by disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich domains. Jararhagin blocks type I collagen-induced platelet aggregation by binding to the alpha(2)beta(1) integrin and inhibiting collagen-mediated intracellular signaling events. Here we present evidence that, in contrast to the observations in platelets, jararhagin binding to the integrin receptor alpha(2)beta(1) in fibroblasts produces collagen-like cell signaling events such as up-regulation of MMP-1 and MT1-MMP. Inactivation of the metalloproteinase domain had no effect on these properties of jararhagin. Thus, in fibroblasts the snake venom metalloproteinase jararhagin functions as a collagen-mimetic substrate that binds to and activates integrins. Given the homology between the metalloproteinase, disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich domains of jararhagin and those of the members of the ADAMs (a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase) family of proteins, this work demonstrates the potential of the disintegrin-like/cysteine-rich domains in the ADAMs as cellular signaling agents to elicit responses relevant to the biological function of these proteins.     

Distinct contributions of glycoprotein VI and alpha(2)beta(1) integrin to the induction of platelet protein tyrosine phosphorylation and aggregation

Platelet activation by collagen depends principally on two receptors, alpha(2)beta(1) integrin (GPIa-IIa) and GPVI. During this activation, the nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase pp72(syk) is rapidly phosphorylated, but the precise contribution of alpha(2)beta(1) integrin and GPVI to signaling for this phosphorylation is not clear. We have recently found that proteolysis of platelet alpha(2)beta(1) integrin by the snake venom metalloproteinase, jararhagin, results in inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation and pp72(syk) phosphorylation. In order to verify whether the treatment of platelets with jararhagin had any effect on GPVI signaling, in this study we stimulated platelets treated with either jararhagin or anti-alpha(2)beta(1) antibody with two GPVI agonists, an antibody to GPVI and convulxin. Platelet shape change and phosphorylation of pp72(syk) by both GPVI agonists was preserved, as was the structure and function of GPVI shown by (125)I-labeled convulxin binding to immunoprecipitated GPVI from jararhagin-treated platelets. In contrast, defective platelet aggregation in response to GPVI agonists occurred in both jararhagin-treated and alpha(2)beta(1)-blocked platelets. This apparent cosignaling role of alpha(2)beta(1) integrin for platelet aggregation suggests the possibility of a topographical association of this integrin with GPVI. We found that both platelet alpha(2)beta(1) integrin and GPVI coimmunoprecipitated with alpha(IIb)beta(3) integrin. Since platelet aggregation requires activation of alpha(IIb)beta(3) integrin, defective aggregation in the absence of alpha(2)beta(1) suggests that this receptor may provide a signaling link between GPVI and alpha(IIb)beta(3). Our study therefore demonstrates that platelet signaling leading to pp72(syk) phosphorylation initiated with GPVI engagement by either convulxin or GPVI antibody does not depend on alpha(2)beta(1) integrin. However, alpha(IIb)beta(3) integrin may, in this model, require functional alpha(2)beta(1) integrin for its activation.     

Distinct determinants on collagen support alpha 2 beta 1 integrin-mediated platelet adhesion and platelet activation.

Recent studies have revealed that the sequence of amino acids asp-gly-glu-ala represents an essential determinant of the site within the alpha 1(I)-CB3 fragment of collagen recognized by the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin cell surface collagen receptor (Staatz et al., 1991). Studies employing chemical modifications of collagen amino acid side chains confirm both the essential nature of the acidic side chains of aspartic acid and glutamic acid residues and the nonessentiality of lysine epsilon-amino groups in supporting adhesion mediated by the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin. The approach also indicates the presence of a distinct determinant on collagen separate from the alpha 2 beta 1 recognition site that contains essential lysine side chains and that is necessary for subsequent interactions with the platelet surface that give rise to collagen-induced platelet activation and secretion. The two-step, two-site model for cellular signaling involving both an integrin and a signal-transducing coreceptor suggested by these data may be common to other integrin-mediated processes.     

Integrin alpha 2-deficient mice develop normally, are fertile, but display partially defective platelet interaction with collagen.

The integrin alpha(2)-subunit was ablated in mice by targeted deletion of the ITGA2 gene. alpha(2)-Deficient animals develop normally, are fertile, and reproduce. Surprisingly, no obvious anatomical or histological differences were observed in mutant mice. Besides its significance in tissue morphogenesis, integrin alpha(2)beta(1) has been reported to play a major role in hemostasis by mediating platelet adhesion and activation on subendothelial collagen. To define its role in hemostasis, alpha(2)-deficient platelets were analyzed for their capacity to adhere to and aggregate in response to fibrillar or soluble collagen type I. We show that aggregation of alpha(2)-deficient platelets to fibrillar collagen is delayed but not reduced, whereas aggregation to enzymatically digested soluble collagen is abolished. Furthermore, alpha(2)-deficient platelets normally adhere to fibrillar collagen. However, in the presence of an antibody against GPVI (activating platelet collagen receptor), adhesion of alpha(2)-deficient but not wild type platelets is abrogated. These results demonstrate that integrin alpha(2)beta(1) significantly contributes to platelet adhesion to (fibrillar) collagen, which is further confirmed by the abolished adhesion of alpha(2)-deficient platelets to soluble collagen. Thus, alpha(2)beta(1) plays a supportive rather than an essential role in platelet-collagen interactions. These results are in agreement with the observation that alpha(2)beta(1)-deficient animals suffer no bleeding anomalies.     

The disintegrin-like domain of the snake venom metalloprotease alternagin inhibits alpha2beta1 integrin-mediated cell adhesion

The alpha2beta1 integrin is a major collagen receptor that plays an essential role in the adhesion of normal and tumor cells to the extracellular matrix. Here we describe the isolation of a novel metalloproteinase/disintegrin, which is a potent inhibitor of the collagen binding to alpha2beta1 integrin. This 55-kDa protein (alternagin) and its disintegrin domain (alternagin-C) were isolated from Bothrops alternatus snake venom. Amino acid sequencing of alternagin-C revealed the disintegrin structure. Alternagin and alternagin-C inhibit collagen I-mediated adhesion of K562-alpha2beta1-transfected cells. The IC50 was 134 and 100 nM for alternagin and alternagin-C, respectively. Neither protein interfered with the adhesion of cells expressing alphaIIbeta3, alpha1beta1, alpha5beta1, alpha4beta1 alphavbeta3, and alpha9beta1 integrins to other ligands such as fibrinogen, fibronectin, and collagen IV. Alternagin and alternagin-C also mediated the adhesion of the K562-alpha2beta1-transfected cells. Our results show that the disintegrin-like domain of alternagin is responsible for its ability to inhibit collagen binding to alpha2beta1 integrin.     

Evidence against a direct role of the integrin alpha2beta1 in collagen-induced tyrosine phosphorylation in human platelets.

In the present study we have investigated whether the collagen receptor alpha2beta1 (GPIa-IIa; GP, glycoprotein) regulates protein tyrosine phosphorylation in platelets directly through activation of tyrosine kinases or indirectly through modification of the response to GPVI. The interaction of collagen with alpha2beta1 was inhibited in two distinct ways, using the metalloprotease jararhagin, which cleaves the beta1 subunit, or the antibody P1E6 which competes with binding of collagen to the integrin. The two inhibitors caused a shift to the right in the collagen concentration response curves for protein tyrosine phosphorylation and platelet activation consistent with a causal relationship between the two events. There was no change in the overall pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation in response to high concentrations of collagen in the presence of alpha2beta1 blockade demonstrating that the integrin is not required for this event. In contrast, jararhagin and P1E6 had a small, almost negligible inhibitory effect against responses to the GPVI-selective agonist collagen-related peptide (CRP) and the G protein-coupled receptor agonist thrombin. Crosslinking of alpha2beta1 in solution or by adhesion to a monolayer using a variety of antibodies to either subunit of the integrin did not induce detectable protein tyrosine phosphorylation in whole cell lysates. The snake venom toxin trimucytin-stimulated a similar pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation to that induced by crosslinking of GPVI which was maintained in the presence of jararhagin. Trimucytin may therefore induce activation via GPVI rather than alpha2beta1 as previously thought. These observations show that the integrin alpha2beta1 is not required for regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation by collagen.     

Characterization and preliminary crystallographic studies of EMS16, an antagonist of collagen receptor (GPIa/IIa) from the venom of Echis multisquamatus

EMS16 is a member of the snake venom-derived C-type lectin family of proteins (CLPs) found in the venom of Echis multisquamatus. It binds to glycoprotein Ia/IIa (integrin alpha2beta1), a major collagen receptor of platelets, acting as a potent antagonist of platelet aggregation and cell migration. Amino acid sequencing and cDNA cloning of EMS16 have revealed that it is composed of an A chain of 134 amino acid residues and a B chain of 128 residues. Crystals of EMS16 belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 46.57, b = 59.93, and c = 115.74 A, and diffract to a resolution of 1.9 A. Phase determination is underway by means of molecular replacement with the structure of blood coagulation factor IX-binding protein (IX-bp) from habu snake venom (PDB code 1bj3) as the search model.     

The Collagen-binding Integrin α2β1 Is a Novel Interaction Partner of the Trimeresurus flavoviridis Venom Protein Flavocetin-A

Many snake venoms are known for their antithrombotic activity. They contain components that specifically target different platelet-activating receptors such as the collagen-binding integrin α2β1 and the von Willebrand factor receptor GPIb. In a search for an α2β1 integrin-blocking component from the venom of the habu snake (Trimeresurus flavoviridis), we employed two independent purification protocols. First, we used the integrin α2A domain, a major collagen-binding domain, as bait for affinity purification of an α2β1 integrin-binding toxin from the crude venom. Second, in parallel, we used classical protein separation protocols and tested for α2β1 integrin-inhibiting capabilities by ELISA. Using both approaches, we identified flavocetin-A as an inhibitor of α2β1 integrin. Hitherto, flavocetin-A has been reported as a GPIb inhibitor. However, flavocetin-A inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation even after GPIb was blocked with other inhibitors. Moreover, flavocetin-A antagonized α2β1 integrin-mediated adhesion and migration of HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells, which lack any GPIb, on collagen. Protein chemical analyses proved that flavocetin-A binds to α2β1 integrin and its α2A domain with high affinity and in a cooperative manner, which most likely is due to its quaternary structure. Kinetic measurements confirmed the formation of a strong complex between integrin and flavocetin-A, which dissociates very slowly. This study proves that flavocetin-A, which has long been known as a GPIb inhibitor, efficiently targets α2β1 integrin and thus blocks collagen-induced platelet activation. Moreover, our findings suggest that the separation of GPIb- and α2β1 integrin-blocking members within the C-type lectin-related protein family is less strict than previously assumed.     

Vipera lebetina venom contains two disintegrins inhibiting laminin-binding beta1 integrins

To explain the myotoxic effects of snake venoms, we searched for inhibitors of alpha7beta1 integrin, the major laminin-binding integrin in skeletal muscle. We discovered two inhibitors in the venom of Vipera lebetina. One of them, lebein-1 (known as lebein), has already been proposed to be a disintegrin because of its RGD-containing primary sequence. The other, lebein-2, is a novel protein that also interacts firmly with alpha3beta1, alpha6beta1, and alpha7beta1 integrins, but not with the collagen-binding alpha1beta1 and alpha2beta1 integrins. Ligand binding of laminin-recognizing beta1 integrins was efficiently blocked by both lebein-1 and lebein-2. In cell attachment assays, lebein-1 and lebein-2 inhibited myoblast attachment not only to laminin, but also to fibronectin. However, neither lebein-1 nor lebein-2 interacted with alpha7beta1 integrin in an RGD-dependent manner, similar to the interaction of the laminin with alpha7beta1 integrin. Identical divalent cation dependence of integrin binding to laminin and to either of the two inhibitors and their mutually exclusive binding suggest that both lebein-1 and lebein-2 interact with the ligand-binding site of laminin-binding beta1 integrins by mimicking the yet unknown integrin-binding structure of laminins. Like lebein-1, lebein-2 is a soluble heterodimeric disintegrin of low molecular mass. Together with membrane-bound ADAM-2 and ADAM-9, the two inhibitors seem to form a small group of disintegrins that can bind to laminin-binding beta1 integrins. Because of their inhibitory capability both in vitro and in vivo, lebein-1 and lebein-2 may be valuable tools in influencing laminin-induced, integrin-mediated cell functions such as cell anchorage, migration, and mechanical force transduction on laminin-rich basement membranes.     

Aggretin, a heterodimeric C-type lectin from Calloselasma rhodostoma (Malayan pit viper), stimulates platelets by binding to α2β1 integrin and glycoprotein Ib, activating Syk and phospholipase Cγ 2, but does not involve the glycoprotein VI/Fc receptor γ chain collagen receptor

Aggretin, a potent platelet activator, was isolated from Calloselasma rhodostoma venom, and 30-amino acid N-terminal sequences of both subunits were determined. Aggretin belongs to the heterodimeric snake C-type lectin family and is thought to activate platelets by binding to platelet glycoprotein alpha(2)beta(1). We now show that binding to glycoprotein (GP) Ib is also required. Aggretin-induced platelet activation was inhibited by a monoclonal antibody to GPIb as well as by antibodies to alpha(2)beta(1). Binding of both of these platelet receptors to aggretin was confirmed by affinity chromatography. No binding of other major platelet membrane glycoproteins, in particular GPVI, to aggretin was detected. Aggretin also activates platelets from Fc receptor gamma chain (Fcgamma)-deficient mice to a greater extent than those from normal control mice, showing that it does not use the GPVI/Fcgamma pathway. Platelets from Fcgamma-deficient mice expressed fibrinogen receptors normally in response to collagen, although they did not aggregate, indicating that these platelets may partly compensate via other receptors including alpha(2)beta(1) or GPIb for the lack of the Fcgamma pathway. Signaling by aggretin involves a dose-dependent lag phase followed by rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of proteins. Among these are p72(SYK), p125(FAK), and PLCgamma2, whereas, in comparison with collagen and convulxin, the Fcgamma subunit neither is phosphorylated nor coprecipitates with p72(SYK). This supports an independent, GPIb- and integrin-based pathway for activation of p72(SYK) not involving the Fcgamma receptor.     

Aggretin, a C-type lectin protein, induces platelet aggregation via integrin alpha(2)beta(1) and GPIb in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase independent pathway.

Aggretin purified from Calloselasma rhodostoma venom was previously identified as alpha(2)beta(1) agonist in triggering platelet aggregation, and exists as a heterodimer sharing a great homologous sequence to GPIb binding proteins. We show here that binding to GPIb is also required in aggregation-inducing activity of aggretin. A2-IIE10, an anti-integrin alpha(2) monoclonal antibody, delayed platelet aggregation while agkistin, a GPIb antagonist, only slightly inhibited platelet aggregation caused by aggretin. However, the aggretin-induced platelet aggregation was completely abolished by a combination of A2-IIE10 and agkistin. Either A2-IIE10 or agkistin significantly inhibited the binding of FITC-aggretin toward fixed platelets. Aggretin and collagen induced a similar signal transduction in platelets involving a time-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK) and PLCgamma2, but aggretin caused a much-delayed tyrosine-phosphorylation of PI 3-kinase compared with collagen. LY294002, a PI 3-kinase inhibitor, showed a significant inhibitory effect on collagen, but not aggretin-stimulated platelet aggregation. These findings indicate aggretin induces platelet aggregation via binding of alpha(2)beta(1) and GPIb, causing phosphorylation of p125(FAK) and PLCgamma2 leading to platelet activation without the involvement of PI 3-kinase activation.     

Analysis of the roles of RGD-binding integrins, alpha(4)/alpha(9) integrins, alpha(6) integrins, and CD9 in the interaction of the fertilin beta (ADAM2) disintegrin domain with the mouse egg membrane

Fertilin beta (also known as ADAM2), a mammalian sperm protein that mediates gamete cell adhesion during fertilization, is a member of the ADAM protein family whose members have disintegrin domains with homology to integrin ligands found in snake venoms. Fertilin beta utilizes an ECD sequence within its disintegrin domain to interact with the egg plasma membrane; the Asp is especially critical. Based on what is known about different integrin subfamilies and their ligands, we sought to characterize fertilin beta binding sites on mouse eggs, focusing on integrin subfamilies that recognize short peptide sequences that include an Asp residue: the alpha(5)/alpha(8)/alpha(v)/alpha(IIb) or RGD-binding subfamily (alpha(5)beta(1), alpha(8)beta(1), alpha(V)beta(1), alpha(V)beta(3), alpha(V)beta(5), alpha(V)beta(6), alpha(V)beta(8), and alpha(IIb)beta(3)) and the alpha(4)/alpha(9) subfamily (alpha(4)beta(1), alpha(9)beta(1), and alpha(4)beta(7)). We tested peptide sequences known to perturb interactions mediated by these integrins in two different assays for fertilin beta binding. Peptides with the sequence MLDG, which perturb alpha(4)/alpha(9) integrin-mediated interactions, significantly inhibit fertilin beta binding to eggs, which suggests a role for a member of this integrin subfamily as a fertilin beta receptor. RGD peptides, which perturb alpha(5)/alpha(8)/alpha(v)/alpha(IIb) integrin-mediated interactions, have partial inhibitory activity. The anti-alpha(6) antibody GoH3 has little or no inhibitory activity. An antibody to the integrin-associated tetraspanin protein CD9 inhibits the binding of a multivalent presentation of fertilin beta (immobilized on beads) but not soluble fertilin beta, which we speculate has implications for the role of CD9 in the strengthening of fertilin beta-mediated cell adhesion but not in initial ligand binding.     

Glycoprotein VI but not alpha2beta1 integrin is essential for platelet interaction with collagen

Platelet adhesion on and activation by components of the extracellular matrix are crucial to arrest post-traumatic bleeding, but can also harm tissue by occluding diseased vessels. Integrin alpha2beta1 is thought to be essential for platelet adhesion to subendothelial collagens, facilitating subsequent interactions with the activating platelet collagen receptor, glycoprotein VI (GPVI). Here we show that Cre/loxP-mediated loss of beta1 integrin on platelets has no significant effect on the bleeding time in mice. Aggregation of beta1-null platelets to native fibrillar collagen is delayed, but not reduced, whereas aggregation to enzymatically digested soluble collagen is abolished. Furthermore, beta1-null platelets adhere to fibrillar, but not soluble collagen under static as well as low (150 s(-1)) and high (1000 s(-1)) shear flow conditions, probably through binding of alphaIIbbeta3 to von Willebrand factor. On the other hand, we show that platelets lacking GPVI can not activate integrins and consequently fail to adhere to and aggregate on fibrillar as well as soluble collagen. These data show that GPVI plays the central role in platelet-collagen interactions by activating different adhesive receptors, including alpha2beta1 integrin, which strengthens adhesion without being essential.     

Integrin-mediated cell adhesion to type I collagen fibrils

In the integrin family, the collagen receptors form a structurally and functionally distinct subgroup. Two members of this subgroup, alpha(1)beta(1) and alpha(2)beta(1) integrins, are known to bind to monomeric form of type I collagen. However, in tissues type I collagen monomers are organized into large fibrils immediately after they are released from cells. Here, we studied collagen fibril recognition by integrins. By an immunoelectron microscopy method we showed that integrin alpha(2)I domain is able to bind to classical D-banded type I collagen fibrils. However, according to the solid phase binding assay, the collagen fibril formation appeared to reduce integrin alpha(1)I and alpha(2)I domain avidity to collagen and to lower the number of putative alphaI domain binding sites on it. Respectively, cellular alpha(1)beta(1) integrin was able to mediate cell spreading significantly better on monomeric than on fibrillar type I collagen matrix, whereas alpha(2)beta(1) integrin appeared still to facilitate both cell spreading on fibrillar type I collagen matrix and also the contraction of fibrillar type I collagen gel. Additionally, alpha(2)beta(1) integrin promoted the integrin-mediated formation of long cellular projections typically induced by fibrillar collagen. Thus, these findings suggest that alpha(2)beta(1) integrin is a functional cellular receptor for type I collagen fibrils, whereas alpha(1)beta(1) integrin may only effectively bind type I collagen monomers. Furthermore, when the effect of soluble alphaI domains on type I collagen fibril formation was tested in vitro, the observations suggest that integrin type collagen receptors might guide or even promote pericellular collagen fibrillogenesis.     

The leech product saratin is a potent inhibitor of platelet integrin alpha2beta1 and von Willebrand factor binding to collagen

Subendothelial collagen plays an important role, via both direct and indirect mechanisms, in the initiation of thrombus formation at sites of vascular injury. Collagen binds plasma von Willebrand factor, which mediates platelet recruitment to collagen under high shear. Subsequently, the direct binding of the platelet receptors glycoprotein VI and alpha2beta1 to collagen is critical for platelet activation and stable adhesion. Leeches, have evolved a number of inhibitors directed towards platelet-collagen interactions so as to prevent hemostasis in the host during hematophagy. In this article, we describe the molecular mechanisms underlying the ability of the leech product saratin to inhibit platelet binding to collagen. In the presence of inhibitors of ADP and thromboxane A2, both saratin and 6F1, a blocking alpha2beta1 mAb, abrogated platelet adhesion to fibrillar and soluble collagen. Additionally, saratin eliminated alpha2beta1-dependent platelet adhesion to soluble collagen in the presence of an Src kinase inhibitor. Moreover, saratin prevented platelet-rich plasma adhesion to fibrillar collagen, a process dependent upon both alpha2beta1 and von Willebrand factor binding to collagen. Furthermore, saratin specifically inhibited the binding of the alpha2 integrin subunit I domain to collagen, and prevented platelet adhesion to collagen under flow to the same extent as observed in the presence of a combination of mAbs to glycoprotein Ib and alpha2beta1. These results demonstrate that saratin interferes with integrin alpha2beta1 binding to collagen in addition to inhibiting von Willebrand factor-collagen binding, presumably by binding to an overlapping epitope on collagen. This has significant implications for the use of saratin as a tool to inhibit platelet-collagen interactions.     

Competitive interactions of collagen and a jararhagin-derived disintegrin peptide with the integrin alpha2-I domain

Integrin alpha2beta1 is a major receptor required for activation and adhesion of platelets, through the specific recognition of collagen by the alpha2-I domain (alpha2-I), which binds fibrillar collagen via Mg(2+)-bridged interactions. The crystal structure of a truncated form of the alpha2-I domain, bound to a triple helical collagen peptide, revealed conformational changes suggestive of a mechanism where the ligand-bound I domain can initiate and propagate conformational change to the full integrin complex. Collagen binding by alpha2-I and fibrinogen-dependent platelet activity can be inhibited by snake venom polypeptides. Here we describe the inhibitory effect of a short cyclic peptide derived from the snake toxin metalloprotease jararhagin, with specific amino acid sequence RKKH, on the ability of alpha2-I to bind triple helical collagen. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements showed that the interactions of alpha2-I with collagen or RKKH peptide have similar affinities, and NMR chemical shift mapping experiments with (15)N-labeled alpha2-I, and unlabeled RKKH peptide, indicate that the peptide competes for the collagen-binding site of alpha2-I but does not induce a large scale conformational rearrangement of the I domain.