Distinct structural requirements for binding of the integrins alphavbeta6, alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5, alpha5beta1 and alpha9beta1 to osteopontin.

The extracellular matrix protein, osteopontin, is a ligand for several members of the integrin family, including alpha5beta1, alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5 and alpha9beta1. Osteopontin is a substrate for a number of extracellular proteases, including thrombin and the metalloproteases MMP-3 and MMP-7, which cleave osteopontin at sites close to or within the mapped integrin binding sites. Using affinity chromatography and cell adhesion assays, we now identify the integrin alphavbeta6 as an additional osteopontin receptor. Utilizing a series of recombinant forms of osteopontin, we compared the structural requirements for alphavbeta6 binding with those for the 4 other osteopontin-binding integrins. Like alpha5beta1, alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 (but not alpha9beta1), alphavbeta6 binds to the RGD site in osteopontin, since RGD peptide or mutation of this site to RAA completely inhibits alphavbeta6-mediated cell adhesion. For both alpha9beta1 and alpha5beta1, the N-terminal fragment generated by thrombin cleavage is a much better ligand than full length osteopontin, whereas thrombin-cleavage does not appear to be required for optimal adhesion to alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5 or alphavbeta6. A recombinant fragment predicted to be generated by MMP cleavage no longer supported alpha5beta1 or alpha9beta1-mediated adhesion, but adhesion mediated by alphavbeta5 or alphavbeta6 was unaffected. Finally, adhesion of alphavbeta5 or alphavbeta6 was inhibited by mutation of two aspartic acid residues upstream of the RGD site, whereas adhesion mediated by alphavbeta3, alpha5beta1 or alpha9beta1 was unaffected by these mutations. These results suggest that the hierarchy of integrin interactions with osteopontin can undergo complex regulation at least in part through the action of extracellular proteases.     

A regulated interaction between alpha5beta1 integrin and osteopontin

The extracellular matrix protein osteopontin (OPN) interacts with a number of integrins, namely alphavbeta1, alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5, alpha9beta1, alpha8beta1, and alpha4beta1. We have investigated the interaction of alpha5beta1 integrin with OPN using K562 cells, which only express alpha5beta1. alpha5beta1 is in a low activation state in this cell line, but can be stimulated to a higher activation state by the phorbol ester TPA. Treating K562 wild-type cells (K562-WT) with TPA stimulated an interaction between alpha5beta1 and OPN. No interaction was seen in the absence of TPA. alpha5beta1 selectively interacted with a GST fusion protein of the N-terminal fragment of OPN (aa17-168), which is generated in vivo by thrombin cleavage of OPN. Expression of the alpha4 integrin in K562 cells (K562-alpha4beta1) stimulated alpha5beta1-dependent binding to aa17-168 in the absence of TPA, suggesting that alpha4beta1 activates alpha5beta1 in K562 cells. Adhesion via alpha5beta1 is mediated by the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif of OPN, as mutating this sequence to Arg-Ala-Asp (RAD) blocked binding of both cell types. These data demonstrate that thrombin cleavage regulates the adhesive properties of OPN and that alpha5beta1 integrin can interact with thrombin-cleaved osteopontin when in a high activation state.     

Analysis of the alpha4beta1 integrin-osteopontin interaction

The integrin alpha4beta1 is involved in mediating exfiltration of leukocytes from the vasculature. It interacts with a number of proteins up-regulated during the inflammatory response including VCAM-1 and the CS-1 alternatively spliced region of fibronectin. In addition it binds the multifunctional protein osteopontin (OPN), which can act as both a cytokine and an extracellular matrix molecule. Here we map the region of human OPN that supports cell adhesion via alpha4beta1 using GST fusion proteins. We show that alpha4beta1 expressed in J6 cells interacts with intact OPN when the integrin is in a high activation state, and by deletion mapping that the alpha4beta1 binding region in OPN lies between amino acid residues 125 and 168 (aa125-168). This region contains the central RGD motif of OPN, which also interacts with integrins alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5, alphavbeta1, alpha8beta1, and alpha5beta1. Mutating the RGD motif to RAD had no effect on the interaction with alpha4beta1. To define the binding site the region incorporating aa125-168 was divided into 5 overlapping peptides expressed as GST fusion proteins. Two peptides supported adhesion via alpha4beta1, aa132-146, and aa153-168; of these only a synthetic peptide, SVVYGLR (aa162-168), derived from aa153-168 was able to inhibit alpha4beta1 binding to CS-1. These data identify the motif SVVYGLR as a novel peptide inhibitor of alpha4beta1, and the primary alpha4beta1 binding site within OPN.     

The collagen-binding A-domains of integrins alpha(1)beta(1) and alpha(2)beta(1) recognize the same specific amino acid sequence, GFOGER, in native (triple-helical) collagens

We have previously assigned an integrin alpha(2)beta(1)-recognition site in collagen I to the sequence, GFOGERGVEGPOGPA (O = Hyp), corresponding to residues 502-516 of the alpha(1)(I) chain and located in the fragment alpha(1)(I)CB3 (Knight, C. G., Morton, L. F., Onley, D. J., Peachey, A. R., Messent, A. J., Smethurst, P. A., Tuckwell, D. S., Farndale, R. W., and Barnes, M. J. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 33287-33294). In this study, we show that recognition is entirely contained within the six-residue sequence GFOGER. This sequence, when in triple-helical conformation, readily supports alpha(2)beta(1)-dependent cell adhesion and exhibits divalent cation-dependent binding of isolated alpha(2)beta(1) and recombinant alpha(2) A-domain, being at least as active as the parent collagen. Replacement of E by D causes loss of recognition. The same sequence binds integrin alpha(1) A-domain and supports integrin alpha(1)beta(1)-mediated cell adhesion. Triple-helical GFOGER completely inhibits alpha(2) A-domain binding to collagens I and IV and alpha(2)beta(1)-dependent adhesion of platelets and HT 1080 cells to these collagens. It also fully inhibits alpha(1) A-domain binding to collagen I and strongly inhibits alpha(1)beta(1)-mediated adhesion of Rugli cells to this collagen but has little effect on either alpha1 A-domain binding or adhesion of Rugli cells to collagen IV. We conclude that the sequence GFOGER represents a high-affinity binding site in collagens I and IV for alpha(2)beta(1) and in collagen I for alpha(1)beta(1). Other high-affinity sites in collagen IV mediate its recognition of alpha(1)beta(1).     

Expression and characterization of recombinant osteopontin peptides representing matrix metalloproteinase proteolytic fragments.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted, arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD)-containing phosphoprotein proteolytically modified by members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family. We previously defined the MMP-3 and MMP-7 cleavage sites in OPN and found increased adhesive and migratory activity of a pool of MMP-cleaved fragments compared to full-length OPN. In the present study, we performed mutational analysis of recombinant full-length OPN and generated recombinant OPN fragments corresponding to the MMP-cleaved fragments, which have apparent molecular weights of 40, 32, and 25 kD by SDS-PAGE. Single residue mutations in 167L and 211L do not abrogate MMP cleavage although processing of the putative C-terminal fragment appears to be affected by a 167L to 167A mutation. The N-terminal 40-kD fragment was a stronger adhesive substrate compared to full-length OPN despite the observation that full-length OPN displayed greater binding in soluble phase to endothelial cell surfaces. While the 32-kD fragment showed significant binding to endothelial cell surfaces, the C-terminal 25-kD fragment did not interact with cell surface. Our data indicate that the increased adhesive activity of MMP-cleaved OPN was accountable by the N-terminal 40-kD fragment. We further analyzed receptor binding, using competition with peptides representing the alpha4beta1 and alpha9beta1 binding sites in the 40-kD N-terminal fragment. Using Jurkat cells, we found that a peptide corresponding to 131ELVTDFPTDLPATE144 had no effect on cell adhesion, whereas the peptide SVVYGLR competitively inhibited cell adhesion. These results suggest that a shorter motif that is found in MMP-cleaved OPN, 162SVVYG166, is sufficient to mediate cell adhesion of Jurkat cells to receptors, including the beta1 integrins, which have been previously characterized to bind the SVVYGLR sequence.     

The integrin alpha(9)beta(1) binds to a novel recognition sequence (SVVYGLR) in the thrombin-cleaved amino-terminal fragment of osteopontin

The integrin alpha(9)beta(1) mediates cell adhesion to tenascin-C and VCAM-1 by binding to sequences distinct from the common integrin-recognition sequence, arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD). A thrombin-cleaved NH(2)-terminal fragment of osteopontin containing the RGD sequence has recently been shown to also be a ligand for alpha(9)beta(1). In this report, we used site-directed mutagenesis and synthetic peptides to identify the alpha(9)beta(1) recognition sequence in osteopontin. alpha(9)-transfected SW480, Chinese hamster ovary, and L-cells adhered to a recombinant NH(2)-terminal osteopontin fragment in which the RGD site was mutated to RAA (nOPN-RAA). Adhesion was completely inhibited by anti-alpha(9) monoclonal antibody Y9A2, indicating the presence of a non-RGD alpha(9)beta(1) recognition sequence within this fragment. Alanine substitution mutagenesis of 13 additional conserved negatively charged amino acid residues in this fragment had no effect on alpha(9)beta(1)-mediated adhesion, but adhesion was dramatically inhibited by either alanine substitution or deletion of tyrosine 165. A synthetic peptide, SVVYGLR, corresponding to the sequence surrounding Tyr(165), blocked alpha(9)beta(1)-mediated adhesion to nOPN-RAA and exposed a ligand-binding-dependent epitope on the integrin beta(1) subunit on alpha(9)-transfected, but not on mock-transfected cells. These results demonstrate that the linear sequence SVVYGLR directly binds to alpha(9)beta(1) and is responsible for alpha(9)beta(1)-mediated cell adhesion to the NH(2)-terminal fragment of osteopontin.     

The activation state of alphavbeta 3 regulates platelet and lymphocyte adhesion to intact and thrombin-cleaved osteopontin

Cleavage of osteopontin by thrombin has been reported to enhance cell adhesion. We asked whether thrombin could regulate the alpha(v)beta(3)-mediated adhesion of platelets and B lymphocytes to this substrate. Although there was no difference in the extent or the avidity of thrombin- and ADP-stimulated platelet adhesion to intact or thrombin-cleaved human osteopontin, both the extent and avidity of phorbol ester-stimulated B cell adhesion to thrombin-cleaved osteopontin was significantly increased. Thus, these data suggest that the ability of alpha(v)beta(3) to recognize osteopontin can be differentially regulated in a cell-specific manner. To localize the alpha(v)beta(3) binding site on osteopontin, we measured cell adhesion to the two thrombin cleavage products of osteopontin and to a series of nested RGD-containing osteopontin peptides cross-linked to albumin. Whereas ADP-stimulated platelets adhered to the amino-terminal but not the carboxyl-terminal osteopontin fragment and to the osteopontin peptide RGDSVVYGLR, phorbol ester-stimulated B cells did not adhere to this peptide, although they did so in the presence of 1 mm Mn(2+). Thus, our data confirm that thrombin cleavage enhances the accessibility of the binding motif for alpha(v)beta(3) on osteopontin, but this enhancement is also a function of the activation state of alpha(v)beta(3). Moreover, they indicate that the sequence RGDSVVYGLR contains sufficient information to specify activation-dependent alpha(v)beta(3)-mediated platelet and lymphocyte adhesion.     

Recognition of the N-terminal modules of thrombospondin-1 and thrombospondin-2 by alpha6beta1 integrin

In addition to its recognition by alpha3beta1 and alpha4beta1 integrins, the N-terminal pentraxin module of thrombospondin-1 is a ligand for alpha6beta1 integrin. alpha6beta1 integrin mediates adhesion of human microvascular endothelial and HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells to immobilized thrombospondin-1 and recombinant N-terminal regions of thrombospondin-1 and thrombospondin-2. alpha6beta1 also mediates chemotaxis of microvascular cells to thrombospondin-1 and thrombospondin-2. Using synthetic peptides, LALERKDHSG was identified as an alpha6beta1-binding sequence in thrombospondin-1. This peptide inhibited alpha6beta1-dependent cell adhesion to thrombospondin-1, thrombospondin-2, and the E8 fragment of murine laminin-1. The Glu residue in this peptide was required for activity, and the corresponding residue (Glu90) in the N-terminal module of thrombospondin-1 was required for its recognition by alpha6beta1, but not by alpha4beta1. alpha6beta1 was also expressed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells; but in these cells, only certain agonists could activate the integrin to recognize thrombospondins. Selective activation of alpha6beta1 integrin in microvascular endothelial cells by the anti-beta1 antibody TS2/16 therefore accounts for their adhesion responses to thrombospondins and explains the distinct functions of alpha4beta1 and alpha6beta1 integrins as thrombospondin receptors in microvascular and large vessel endothelial cells.     

Identification of a tetrapeptide recognition sequence for the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin in collagen

The alpha 2 beta 1 integrin serves as either a specific cell surface receptor for collagen or as both a collagen and laminin receptor depending upon the cell type. Recently we established that the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin binds to a site within the alpha 1 (I)-CB3 fragment of type I collagen (Staatz, W. D., Walsh, J. J., Pexton, T., and Santoro, S. A. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 4778-4781). To define the alpha 2 beta 1 recognition sequence further we have prepared an overlapping set of synthetic peptides which completely spans the 148-amino acid alpha 1(I)-CB3 fragment and tested the peptides for ability to inhibit cell adhesion to collagen and laminin substrates. The minimal active recognition sequence defined by these experiments is a tetrapeptide of the sequence Asp-Gly-Glu-Ala (DGEA) corresponding to residues 435-438 of the type I collagen sequence. The DGEA-containing peptides effectively inhibited alpha 2 beta 1-mediated Mg2(+)-dependent adhesion of platelets, which use the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin as a collagen-specific receptor, to collagen but had no effect on alpha 5 beta 1-mediated platelet adhesion to fibronectin or alpha 6 beta 1-mediated platelet adhesion to laminin. In contrast, with T47D breast adenocarcinoma cells, which use alpha 2 beta 1 as a collagen/lamin receptor, adhesion to both collagen and laminin was inhibited by DGEA-containing peptides. Deletion of the alanine residue or substitution of alanine for either the glutamic or aspartic acid residues in DGEA-containing peptides resulted in marked loss of inhibitory activity. These results indicate that the amino acid sequence DGEA serves as a recognition site for the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin complex on platelets and other cells.     

Inhibitory effects of MLDG-containing heterodimeric disintegrins reveal distinct structural requirements for interaction of the integrin alpha 9beta 1 with VCAM-1, tenascin-C, and osteopontin

The integrin alpha9beta1 is expressed on epithelial cells, smooth muscle cells, skeletal muscle, and neutrophils and recognizes at least three distinct ligands: vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), tenascin-C, and osteopontin. The alpha9 subunit is structurally similar to the integrin alpha4 subunit, and alpha9beta1 and alpha4beta1 both recognize VCAM-1 as a ligand. We therefore examined whether the disintegrin EC3, which we have recently shown specifically inhibits the binding of alpha4 integrins to ligands, would also be a functional inhibitor of alpha9beta1. EC3 and a novel heterodimeric disintegrin that we identified, EC6, both were potent inhibitors of alpha9beta1-mediated adhesion to VCAM-1 and of neutrophil migration across tumor necrosis factor-activated endothelial cells. A peptide containing a novel MLDG motif shared by both of these disintegrins also inhibited alpha9beta1- and alpha4beta1-mediated adhesion to VCAM-1. Surprisingly though, concentrations of EC3 that completely inhibited adhesion of alpha9-transfected cells to VCAM-1 had little or no effect on adhesion to either of the other alpha9beta1 ligands, osteopontin and tenascin-C. Furthermore, peptides AEIDGIEL and SVVYGLR, which we have previously shown inhibit binding of alpha9beta1-expressing cells to tenascin-C and osteopontin, respectively, had no effect on adhesion to VCAM-1. These data suggest that there are structurally distinct requirements for interactions of the alpha9beta1 integrin with VCAM-1 and the extracellular matrix ligands osteopontin and tenascin-C.     

Coordinate role for cell surface chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan and alpha 4 beta 1 integrin in mediating melanoma cell adhesion to fibronectin

Cellular recognition and adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) has a complex molecular basis, involving both integrins and cell surface proteoglycans (PG). The current studies have used specific inhibitors of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) synthesis along with anti-alpha 4 integrin subunit monoclonal antibodies to demonstrate that human melanoma cell adhesion to an A-chain derived, 33-kD carboxyl-terminal heparin binding fragment of human plasma fibronectin (FN) involves both cell surface CSPG and alpha 4 beta 1 integrin. A direct role for cell surface CSPG in mediating melanoma cell adhesion to this FN fragment was demonstrated by the identification of a cationic synthetic peptide, termed FN-C/H-III, within the fragment. FN-C/H-III is located close to the amino terminal end of the fragment, representing residues #1721-1736 of intact FN. FN-C/H-III binds CSPG directly, can inhibit CSPG binding to the fragment, and promotes melanoma cell adhesion by a CSPG-dependent, alpha 4 beta 1 integrin-independent mechanism. A scrambled version of FN-C/H-III does not inhibit CSPG binding or cell adhesion to the fragment or to FN-C/H-III, indicating that the primary sequence of FN-C/H-III is important for its biological properties. Previous studies have identified three other synthetic peptides from within this 33-kD FN fragment that promote cell adhesion by an arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD) independent mechanism. Two of these synthetic peptides (FN-C/H-I and FN-C/H-II) bind heparin and promote cell adhesion, implicating cell surface PG in mediating cellular recognition of these two peptides. Additionally, a third synthetic peptide, CS1, is located in close proximity to FN-C/H-I and FN-C/H-II and it promotes cell adhesion by an alpha 4 beta 1 integrin-dependent mechanism. In contrast to FN-C/H-III, cellular recognition of these three peptides involved contributions from both CSPG and alpha 4 integrin subunits. Of particular importance are observations demonstrating that CS1-mediated melanoma cell adhesion could be inhibited by interfering with CSPG synthesis or expression. Since CS1 does not bind CSPG, the results suggest that CSPG may modify the function and/or activity of alpha 4 beta 1 integrin on the surface of human melanoma cells. Together, these results support a model in which the PG and integrin binding sites within the 33-kD fragment may act in concert to focus these two cell adhesion receptors into close proximity on the cell surface, thereby influencing initial cellular recognition events that contribute to melanoma cell adhesion on this fragment.     

Identification of a novel recognition sequence for the integrin alpha 4 beta 1 in the COOH-terminal heparin-binding domain of fibronectin.

The type III connecting segment of fibronectin contains two cell binding sites, represented by the peptides CS1 and CS5, that are recognized by the integrin receptor alpha 4 beta 1. Using assays measuring the spreading of A375-SM human melanoma cells, we now report that the adhesion promoting activity of a 29 kDa protease fragment of fibronectin containing the COOH-terminal heparin-binding domain (HepII), but lacking CS1 and CS5, is completely sensitive to anti-alpha 4 and anti-beta 1 antibodies, suggesting that HepII contains a third alpha 4 beta 1-binding sequence. Examination of the primary structure of HepII revealed a sequence with homology to CS1. A 19mer peptide spanning this region (designated H1) was found to support cell spreading to the same level as the 29 kDa fragment. H1-dependent adhesion was completely sensitive to anti-alpha 4 and anti-beta 1 antibodies. When soluble peptides were tested for their ability to block cell spreading on the 29 kDa fragment, a 13mer peptide comprising the central core of H1 was found to be completely inhibitory. The active region of H1 was localized to the pentapeptide IDAPS, which is homologous to LDVPS from the active site of CS1. Taken together, these results identify a novel peptide sequence in the HepII region of fibronectin that supports alpha 4 beta 1-dependent cell adhesion.     

Vascular endothelial cell adhesion and spreading promoted by the peptide REDV of the IIICS region of plasma fibronectin is mediated by integrin alpha 4 beta 1.

We have recently reported the attachment and spreading of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) upon substrates containing covalently grafted Arg-Glu-Asp-Val (REDV) peptide (Hubbell, J. A., Massia, S. P., Desai, N. P., and Drumheller, P. D. (1991) Bio/Technology 9, 568-572). This peptide has been reported to be the minimal active sequence within the CS5 site of the alternatively spliced type III connecting segment (IIICS) region of fibronectin, and the integrin alpha 4 beta 1 has been identified as the receptor on melanoma cells for this site. The integrin alpha 4 beta 1 has also been identified as the receptor for the CS1 site in the IIICS region on cells of neural crest origin, melanoma cells, lymphocytes, and hematopoietic stem cells. In this study, we demonstrate that this integrin also serves as a receptor on HUVECs for the peptide REDV from the CS5 site. The alpha 4 subunit was shown to be expressed upon HUVEC membranes by whole-cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antifunctional antibodies directed against integrin subunits alpha 4 and beta 1 inhibited cell adhesion on REDV-grafted substrates, but not on RGD-grafted substrates. The alpha 4 subunit localized into fibrillar structures within spread cells on the REDV-grafted substrates, but not within spread cells on RGD-grafted substrates. Two proteins (144 and 120 kDa) were isolated from HUVEC extracts by REDV ligand affinity chromatography and were demonstrated by immunoprecipitation and Western blot to be the integrin subunits alpha 4 (144 kDa) and beta 1 (120 kDa); furthermore, the immunoprecipitation analyses demonstrated that the subunits formed a complex. HUVEC binding to REDV-grafted substrates was inhibited by both soluble REDV and RGD, demonstrating that adhesion was biospecific and that the REDV peptide is RGD-like. In this report we demonstrate for the first time that alpha 4 is present in the endothelial cell membrane, in contrast to previous reports by others, and that integrin alpha 4 beta 1 is the receptor for REDV-mediated adhesion to the IIICS region of region of plasma fibronectin.     

A synthetic peptide derived from the carboxy terminus of the laminin A chain represents a binding site for the alpha 3 beta 1 integrin

The purpose of this study was to identify the binding site(s) within laminin for the alpha 3 beta 1 integrin receptor. It has been previously shown, using proteolytic fragments and anti-laminin antibodies, that the region in laminin for alpha 3 beta 1 integrin binding is localized to the carboxy-terminal region at the end of the long arm (Gehlsen, K. R., E. Engvall, K. Dickerson, W. S. Argraves, and E. Ruoslahti. 1989. J. Biol. Chem. 264:19034-19038; Tomaselli, K. J., D. E. Hall, L. T. Reichardt, L. A. Flier, K. R. Gehlsen, D. C. Turner, and S. Carbonetto. 1990. Neuron. 5:651-662). Using synthetic peptides, we have identified an amino acid sequence within the carboxy-terminal region of the laminin A chain that is recognized by the alpha 3 beta 1 integrin. The amino acid sequence represented by the synthetic peptide GD-6 (KQNCLSSRASFRGCVRNLRLSR residues numbered 3011 to 3032) of the globular domain of the murine A chain supports cell attachment and inhibits cell adhesion to laminin-coated surfaces. By affinity chromatography, peptide GD-6-Sepharose specifically bound solubilized alpha 3 beta 1 from extracts of surface-iodinated cells in a cation-dependent manner, while it did not bind other integrins. In addition, exogenous peptide GD-6 specifically eluted bound alpha 3 beta 1 from laminin-Sepharose columns but did not elute the alpha 3 beta 1 integrin from a fibronectin-Sepharose column. Using integrin subunit-specific monoclonal antibodies, only those antibodies against the alpha 3 and beta 1 subunits inhibited cell adhesion to peptide GD-6-coated surfaces. Finally, a polyclonal antibody made against peptide GD-6 reacted specifically with both murine and human laminin and significantly inhibited cell adhesion to laminin-coated surfaces but not those coated with other matrix proteins. These results identify the laminin A chain amino acid sequence of peptide GD-6 as representing a binding site in laminin for the alpha 3 beta 1 integrin.     

Adhesion of osteosarcoma cells to the 70-kDa core region of thrombospondin-1 is mediated by the alpha 4 beta 1 integrin

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is an extracellular glycoprotein that is involved in a variety of physiological processes such as tumor cell adhesion, invasion, and metastasis. It has been hypothesized that TSP-1 provides an adhesive matrix for osteosarcoma cells. Here we present data showing that TSP-1 can promote cell substrate adhesion to U2OS and SAOS cells through the alpha 4 beta 1 integrin. The dose-dependent adhesion to TSP-1 was inhibited by anti-integrin antibodies directed against the alpha 4 or beta 1 subunit, but not by control antibodies against other integrins. To localize the potential alpha 4 beta 1-binding site within the TSP-1 molecule, the protein was subjected to limited proteolysis with chymotrypsin in the absence of calcium. The stable 70-kDa core fragment produced under these conditions promoted alpha 4 beta 1-dependent osteosarcoma cell adhesion in a manner similar to that of the intact protein. Moreover adhesion experiments with neutralizing antibodies revealed that the adhesion was totally dependent on the alpha 4 beta 1 interaction. Further blocking experiments with potential inhibitory peptides revealed that the alpha 4 beta 1-mediated adhesion was not influenced by peptides containing the RGD sequence. Attachment to the 70-kDa fragment was strongly inhibited by the CS-1 peptide, which represents the most active recognition domain for alpha 4 beta 1 integrin in fibronectin. The present data provide evidence that TSP-1 contains an alpha 4 beta 1 integrin-binding site within the 70-kDa core region.     

Inhibition of breast cancer cell adhesion and bone metastasis by the extracellular adherence protein of Staphylococcus aureus

Bone metastasis is a common sequelae of breast cancer and the interaction of alpha v beta3-integrin with osteopontin (OPN) found in the extracellular matrix of mineralized tissues is implicated in this process. The integrin-dependent proadhesive and promigratory functions of OPN are particularly attributed to the 40 kD N-terminal fragment that derives upon matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) cleavage. Based on the broad repertoire of interactions between Staphylococcus aureus extracellular adherence protein (Eap) and host components, we here characterized Eap to specifically interact with recombinant full-length OPN and the 40 kD N-terminal MMP cleavage fragment, but not with the 32 kD or the 25 kD C-terminal fragments of OPN. Eap thereby prevented the OPN/alpha v beta3-integrin interaction, as well as the alpha v beta3-integrin-dependent adhesion of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells to full-length OPN or to the 40 kD fragment and the migration of these cells towards OPN. Furthermore, Eap treatment markedly impaired the development of osseous metastasis of human MDA-MB-231 cells in vivo. Taken together, Eap may represent an attractive novel treatment for the prevention of breast cancer bone metastasis.     

Muc-1, integrin, and osteopontin expression during the implantation cascade in sheep

The extracellular matrix protein osteopontin (OPN) is a component of histotroph that increases in uterine flushings from pregnant ewes during the peri-implantation period and is localized on the apical surfaces of the uterine luminal epithelium (LE) and conceptus trophectoderm (Tr). The potential involvement of OPN in the implantation adhesion cascade in sheep was investigated by examining temporal, spatial, and potential functional relationships between OPN, Muc-1, and integrin subunits during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. Immunoreactive Muc-1 was highly expressed at the apical surfaces of uterine luminal (LE) and glandular epithelium (GE) in both cycling and pregnant ewes but was decreased dramatically on LE by Day 9 and was nearly undetectable by Day 17 of pregnancy when intimate contact between LE and Tr begins. In contrast, integrin subunits alpha(v), alpha(4), alpha(5), beta(1), beta(3), and beta(5) were constitutively expressed on conceptus Tr and at the apical surface of uterine LE and GE in both cyclic and early pregnant ewes. The apical expression of these subunits could contribute to the apical assembly of several OPN receptors including the alpha(v)beta(3), alpha(v)beta(1), alpha(v)beta(5), alpha(4)beta(1), and alpha(5)beta(1) heterodimers on endometrial LE and GE, and conceptus Tr in sheep. Functional analysis of potential OPN interactions with conceptus and endometrial integrins was performed on LE and Tr cells in vitro using beads coated with OPN, poly-L-lysine, or recombinant OPN in which the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence was replaced with RGE or RAD. Transmembrane accumulation of talin or alpha-actinin at the apical surface of uterine LE and conceptus Tr cells in contact with OPN-coated beads revealed functional integrin activation and cytoskeletal reorganization in response to OPN binding. These results provide a physiological framework for the role of OPN, a potential mediator of implantation in sheep, as a bridge between integrin heterodimers expressed by Tr and uterine LE responsible for adhesion for initial conceptus attachment.     

The alpha 2 beta 1 integrin cell surface collagen receptor binds to the alpha 1 (I)-CB3 peptide of collagen

We have previously shown that platelets adhere to collagen substrates via a Mg2(+)-dependent mechanism mediated by the surface glycoprotein Ia-IIa (human leukocyte very late activation protein 2, alpha 2 beta 1 integrin) complex. The adhesion is specific for collagen and is supported by collagen types I, II, III, IV, and VI. Several other members of the integrin family of adhesive protein receptors recognize discrete linear amino acid sequences within their adhesive glycoprotein ligands. Experiments with both intact platelets and with liposomes containing the purified receptor complex indicated that the alpha 2 beta 1 receptor recognized denatured type I collagen in a Mg2(+)-dependent manner. To further localize the binding site, the alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains of type I collagen were purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography and tested as adhesive substrates. Both the alpha 1(I) and alpha 2(I) chains effectively supported Mg2(+)-dependent platelet adhesion. The purified alpha 1(I) collagen chain was then subjected to cleavage with cyanogen bromide, and the resultant peptides were separated by chromatography on carboxymethylcellulose. Only the alpha 1(I)-CB3 fragment supported Mg2(+)-dependent platelet adhesion. The monoclonal antibody P1H5 which recognizes an epitope on the alpha 2 subunit of the integrin receptor and which inhibits the adhesion of both intact platelets and liposomes bearing the purified receptor to collagen also inhibited platelet adhesion to the alpha 1(I)-CB3 fragment. These results indicate that the alpha 2 beta 1 receptor recognizes a sequence of amino acids present in the alpha 1(I)-CB3 fragment of type I collagen. An identical or similar sequence likely mediates binding of the receptor to other collagen polypeptides.     

Functional genomic analysis in arthritis-affected cartilage: yin-yang regulation of inflammatory mediators by alpha 5 beta 1 and alpha V beta 3 integrins

Osteoarthritis-affected cartilage exhibits enhanced expression of fibronectin (FN) and osteopontin (OPN) mRNA in differential display and bioinformatics screen. Functional genomic analysis shows that the engagement of the integrin receptors alpha 5 beta 1 and alpha v beta 3 of FN and OPN, respectively, have profound effects on chondrocyte functions. Ligation of alpha 5 beta 1 using activating mAb JBS5 (which acts as agonist similar to FN N-terminal fragment) up-regulates the inflammatory mediators such as NO and PGE2 as well as the cytokines, IL-6 and IL-8. Furthermore, up-regulation of these proinflammatory mediators by alpha 5 beta1 integrin ligation is mediated via induction and autocrine production of IL-1 beta, because type II soluble IL-1 decoy receptor inhibits their production. In contrast, alpha v beta 3 complex-specific function-blocking mAb (LM609), which acts as an agonist similar to OPN, attenuates the production of IL-1 beta, NO, and PGE2 (triggered by alpha 5 beta 1, IL-1 beta, IL-18, or IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, plus LPS) in a dominant negative fashion by osteoarthritis-affected cartilage and activated bovine chondrocytes. These data demonstrate a cross-talk in signaling mechanisms among integrins and show that integrin-mediated "outside in" and "inside out" signaling very likely influences cartilage homeostasis, and its deregulation may play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.     

The PPFLMLLKGSTR motif in globular domain 3 of the human laminin-5 alpha3 chain is crucial for integrin alpha3beta1 binding and cell adhesion

Laminin-5 regulates various cellular functions, including cell adhesion, spreading, and motility. Here, we expressed the five human laminin alpha3 chain globular (LG) domains as monomeric, soluble fusion proteins, and examined their biological functions and signaling. Recombinant LG3 (rLG3) protein, unlike rLG1, rLG2, rLG4, and rLG5, played roles in cell adhesion, spreading, and integrin alpha3beta1 binding. More significantly, we identified a novel motif (PPFLMLLKGSTR) in the LG3 domain that is crucial for these responses. Studies with the synthetic peptides delineated the PPFLMLLKGSTR peptide within LG3 domain as a major site for both integrin alpha3beta1 binding and cell adhesion. Substitution mutation experiments suggest that the Arg residue is important for these activities. rLG3 protein- and PPFLMLLKGSTR peptide-induced keratinocyte adhesion triggered cell signaling through FAK phosphorylation at tyrosine-397 and -577. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that the PPFLMLLKGSTR peptide within the LG3 domain is a novel motif that is capable of supporting integrin alpha3beta1-dependent cell adhesion and spreading.