Effects of nitric oxide-releasing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NONO-NSAIDs) on melanoma cell adhesion

A new class of nitric oxide (NO•)-releasing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NONO-NSAIDs) were developed in recent years and have shown promising potential as NSAID substitutes due to their gentle nature on cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. Since nitric oxide plays a role in regulation of cell adhesion, we assessed the potential use of NONO-NSAIDs as anti-metastasis drugs. In this regard, we compared the effects of NONO-aspirin and a novel NONO-naproxen to those exerted by their respective parent NSAIDs on avidities of human melanoma M624 cells. Both NONO-NSAIDs, but not the corresponding parent NSAIDs, reduced M624 adhesion on vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) by 20-30% and fibronectin by 25-44% under fluid flow conditions and static conditions, respectively. Only NONO-naproxen reduced (~56%) the activity of β1 integrin, which binds to α4 integrin to form very late antigen-4 (VLA-4), the ligand of VCAM-1. These results indicate that the diazeniumdiolate (NO•)-donor moiety is critical for reducing the adhesion between VLA-4 and its ligands, while the NSAID moiety can impact the regulation mechanism of melanoma cell adhesion.

Upregulated expression of VLA proteins and CD29 in peripheral blood lymphocytes of chronic alcoholics without ethanol-related diseases

To analyze adhesion molecule expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and on different lymphocyte subpopulations (CD2+, CD8+, CD19+, and CD56+ subsets) in chronic alcoholism, 30 well-nourished chronic alcoholics without ethanol-related diseases and 30 matched controls were included in the study. Adhesion molecules that mediate adhesion to other cells and to extracellular matrix proteins, and whose cellular expression is modified during lymphocyte activation, were selected for study. A detailed clinical evaluation, laboratory analysis, nutritional assessment, and study of adhesion molecule expression was performed. A significant higher expression of CD29 (beta1-integrin) (p = 0.001), VLA-3 (p = 0.002), VLA-4 (p = 0.03), and VLA-5 (p = 0.001) were observed on PBMCs of chronic alcoholics, compared with control subjects, whereas no changes were observed in CD18 (beta2-integrin) and CD50 (ICAM-3) expression. The upregulation of CD29 and VLA proteins only affected T lymphocytes (CD2+/CD8+/CD4+ cells). These data confirm that T cells of chronic alcoholics are basally activated and that changes in adhesion molecule expression on PBMCs may be responsible of disturbances of adhesion processes in chronic alcoholics without ethanol-related diseases.

Mutational evidence for control of cell adhesion through integrin diffusion/clustering, independent of ligand binding

Previous studies have shown that integrin alpha chain tails make strong positive contributions to integrin-mediated cell adhesion. We now show here that integrin alpha4 tail deletion markedly impairs static cell adhesion by a mechanism that does not involve altered binding of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 ligand. Instead, truncation of the alpha4 cytoplasmic domain caused a severe deficiency in integrin accumulation into cell surface clusters, as induced by ligand and/ or antibodies. Furthermore, alpha4 tail deletion also significantly decreased the membrane diffusivity of alpha4beta1, as determined by a single particle tracking technique. Notably, low doses of cytochalasin D partially restored the deficiency in cell adhesion seen upon alpha4 tail deletion. Together, these results suggest that alpha4 tail deletion exposes the beta1 cytoplasmic domain, leading to cytoskeletal associations that apparently restrict integrin lateral diffusion and accumulation into clusters, thus causing reduced static cell adhesion. Our demonstration of integrin adhesive activity regulated through receptor diffusion/clustering (rather than through altered ligand binding affinity) may be highly relevant towards the understanding of inside-out signaling mechanisms for beta1 integrins.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor regulates the functional adhesive state of very late antigen-4 expressed by eosinophils

As very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) can exist in different functional states, we have sought to determine whether a cytokine expressed by inflamed endothelium (i.e., granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF)) could regulate the functional state of VLA-4 expressed by eosinophils. Using a micropipette single cell adhesion assay able to measure the strength of adhesion forces, eosinophils exhibited low levels of basal adhesion to unstimulated endothelium (separation force, 0.022 +/- 0.003 mdynes). In contrast, individual eosinophils bound to IL-1beta-stimulated endothelium (0.49 +/- 0.02 mdynes), TNF-stimulated endothelium (0.62 +/- 0.05 mdynes), or IL-4-stimulated endothelium (0.11 +/- 0.01 mdynes) with increased avidity as assessed by separation force. Eosinophil binding to IL-4-stimulated endothelium was significantly inhibited by neutralizing Abs to either vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) or VLA-4. The strength of eosinophil adhesion to VCAM (0.31 +/- 0.02 mdynes) or to connecting segment-1 (CS-1) (0.18 mdynes) was greater than the strength of eosinophil adhesion to unstimulated endothelium (0.02 mdynes), but was less than the strength of eosinophil adhesion to IL-1beta-stimulated endothelium (0.49 +/- 0.02 mdynes). After incubating eosinophils for 30 min with GM-CSF, the mean adhesion strength of eosinophils to CS-1 and VCAM increased significantly by 84 and 54%, respectively, compared with that of controls. This increased binding of eosinophils to VCAM or CS-1 was not due to alterations in VLA-4 receptor number (assessed by FACS analysis) or alterations in VLA-4 receptor distribution (assessed by confocal microscopy). These studies suggest that endothelial-derived cytokines such as GM-CSF have the potential to alter the functional state of eosinophil-expressed VLA-4 from a low affinity state to a high affinity state.

Selective immunomodulation: utilization of CD29/VLA molecules

Accumulating evidence suggests that the VLA/CD29 molecule plays an important role in T-cell costimulation, and CD4+CD29/VLA+ memory T cells play a key role in induction of CD8 killer effector T cells which are considered to be a major population involved in graft rejection. To target limited elements of the T-lymphocyte population, we have described the preparation of a bispecific antibody-toxin conjugate designed to target CD4+CD29+ memory T cells. We also showed that the solid-phase crosslinking of VLA-4 by the antibody against this molecule or by its ligand, the CS-1 region of fibronectin, stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of 140, 120-105, 80-70, 60-55, 50 and 45 kilodalton proteins. In addition, we identified the pp140 protein as PLC gamma, pp120 protein as pp125FAK, pp70 and pp50 proteins as paxillin, and pp60-55 proteins as pp59fyn and pp56lck, and pp45 as MAP kinase, respectively. Moreover, we demonstrated that pp125FAK is directly associated with paxillin. The paxillin binding domain of pp125FAK is homologous to the paxillin binding domain of vinculin. Mutations in the conserved amino acid residues between pp125FAK and vinculin result in the loss of paxillin-binding activity. Because VLA/CD29 is preferentially expressed on CD4 memory T cells, the above described system will be used to develop a novel drug design for providing selective immunosuppression useful for organ transplantation.

Alpha 4 beta 1 integrin-dependent cell adhesion is regulated by a low affinity receptor pool that is conformationally responsive to ligand

alpha 4 beta 1 integrin (VLA-4) appears to be unique among the leukocyte integrins in that it can initiate the adhesion of circulating lymphocytes without cellular activation. It is not known how lymphocytes or other cell types maintain constitutive levels of alpha 4 beta 1 integrin activity. The current report describes a monoclonal antibody, 15/7, that recognizes a high affinity or ligand-occupied conformation of beta 1 integrin. Studies with 15/7 revealed that alpha 4 beta 1 integrin-dependent adhesion of leukocytic cell lines is mediated by a population of low affinity receptors that is conformationally responsive to ligand; the 15/7 epitope could be induced by nanomolar concentrations of soluble VCAM-1 or by micromolar concentrations of a peptide derived from the type III connecting segment domain of fibronectin (as ligands for alpha 4 beta 1 integrin). The same receptors were also responsive to adhesion activating reagents, such as Mn2+, activating anti-beta 1 integrin antibodies, and phorbol myristate acetate, which induced the 15/7 epitope directly and/or decreased the concentration of ligand required for epitope induction. In addition to the responsive receptor pool, cells expressed a second population of alpha 4 beta 1 integrin that was conformationally restrained, failing to respond to ligand or to any of the activating reagents. The relative size of the responsive and inactive receptor pools, as well as the affinity of the responsive receptors, represented a stable phenotype of different cell types and played important roles in defining the cells' adhesive capacity and ligand specificity. Similar receptor populations were measured on lymphocyte subsets in whole blood. These studies provide insight into how cells maintain different constitutive levels of alpha 4 beta 1 integrin activity, and how the activity of beta 1 integrin can be modulated by activators of cell adhesion.

Vascular cell adhesion molecule-Ig fusion protein selectively targets activated alpha 4-integrin receptors in vivo. Inhibition of autoimmune diabetes in an adoptive transfer model in nonobese diabetic mice

The alpha 4 beta 1-integrin (CD49d, CD29) constitutively expressed on leukocytes regulates cell migration to inflammatory sites, cell activation, and development through its interactions with two alternate ligands, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1; CD106) expressed on cytokine-activated endothelium, dendritic and stromal cells, and the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin. Another alpha 4-integrin receptor, alpha 4 beta 7, expressed on leukocytes also binds VCAM-1 and fibronectin (FN), and controls homing to mucosal tissues through its interactions with mucosal vascular addressin MAdCAM-1. In vitro studies have shown that alpha 4-dependent cell adhesion is regulated by the activation state of the cell and by divalent cations. However, the existence and role of cells with different alpha 4 activation states in vivo have not been defined. Herein we show that a soluble ligand with the two N-terminal domains of human VCAM-1 fused to a human IgG1 constant region, VCAM-Ig, binds selectively to activated alpha 4-receptors on murine cells, such as those induced by Mn2+ in vitro. To determine whether the cells identified by VCAM-Ig were required under physiologic conditions, we assessed its anti-inflammatory effect. We show that VCAM-Ig is not bound to the majority of murine alpha 4+ cells after in vivo administration, yet it significantly delays the onset of adoptively transferred autoimmune diabetes. Thus, soluble VCAM-Ig can modify alpha 4-dependent disease progression, apparently by its selective action on cells with activated alpha 4-integrin receptors, thereby providing evidence for distinct alpha 4 activation states in vivo.

Induction of programmed cell death in human hematopoietic cell lines by fibronectin via its interaction with very late antigen 5

Extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules such as fibronectin (FN), collagens, and laminin have important roles in hematopoiesis. However, little is known about the precise mechanisms by which ECM molecules regulate proliferation of human hematopoietic progenitor cells. In this study, we have investigated the effects of ECM molecules, particularly of FN, on the proliferation of a myeloid leukemia cell line, M07E, which proliferates in response to either human granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or stem cell factor (SCF). The [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell enumeration assays showed that FN strikingly inhibited GM-CSF- or SCF-induced proliferation of M07E cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas little or no inhibition was induced by collagen types I and IV. The growth suppression of M07E cells was not due to the inhibitory effect of FN on ligand binding or very early events in the signal transduction pathways from the GM-CSF or SCF receptors. DNA content analysis using flow cytometry after staining with propidium iodide revealed that the treatment of M07E cells with FN did not block the entry of the cells into the cell cycle after stimulation with GM-CSF or SCF, whereas the treatment resulted in the appearance of subdiploid peak. Furthermore, FN was found to induce oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation in the cells even in the presence of GM-CSF or SCF, suggesting the involvement of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the FN-induced growth suppression. The growth suppression or apoptosis induced by FN was rescued by the addition of either anti-FN antibody, anti-very late antigen 5 monoclonal antibody (anti-VLA5 mAb), or GRGDSP peptide, but not by that of anti-VLA4 mAb or GRGESP peptide, suggesting that the FN effects on M07E cells were mediated through VLA5. In addition, the FN-induced apoptosis was detectable in VLA5-positive human hematopoietic cell lines other than M07E cells, but not in any of the VLA5-negative cell lines. These results suggest that FN is capable of inducing apoptosis via its interaction with VLA5, and also raise the possibility that the FN-VLA5 interaction may contribute, at least in part, to negative regulation of hematopoiesis.

A high affinity conformational state on VLA integrin heterodimers induced by an anti-beta 1 chain monoclonal antibody

The VLA integrin subfamily includes receptors for extracellular matrix proteins as well as receptors involved in cell-cell adhesive interactions. We have previously described the up-regulation of VLA integrin-mediated cell attachment to different ligands by the anti-beta 1 TS2/16 monoclonal antibody (mAb) (Arroyo, A. G., Sánchez-Mateos, P., Campanero, M. R., Martín-Padura, I., Dejana, E., and Sánchez-Madrid, F. (1992) J. Cell Biol. 117, 659-670). In this report, we have investigated the mechanism involved in this regulatory effect. The anti-beta 1-mediated regulatory effect on cell adhesion did not require "de novo" protein synthesis, since it was not affected by pretreatment with either cycloheximide or actinomycin D. To quantitate the effect of the regulatory anti-beta 1 TS2/16 mAb on the affinity of VLA-5 for its ligand, an RGD-containing fragment of fibronectin (FN80), we performed binding studies of radiolabeled soluble FN80 to U-937 cells. The affinity of VLA-5 for FN80 was enhanced about 4-fold in the presence of TS2/16 mAb (Kd = 0.98 +/- 0.07 microM) compared to the functionally irrelevant anti-beta 1 Alex 1/4 mAb (Kd = 4.23 +/- 0.92 microM), whereas no alteration in the number of binding sites was observed. Indeed, the anti-beta 1 TS2/16 mAb is inducing this high affinity state on VLA heterodimers by a direct change on the conformation of these receptors as demonstrated by affinity chromatography analysis using extracellular matrix proteins covalently bound to Sepharose. The yield of VLA-5 fibronectin receptor bound to FN80-Sepharose columns was strongly increased upon treatment of U-937 cell lysates with mAb TS2/16. Moreover, higher concentrations of EDTA were required for eluting the VLA-5 integrin from this matrix. This up-regulatory effect was also observed with F(ab')2 and Fab fragments of the anti-beta 1 TS2/16 mAb, and was also exerted on the purified VLA-5 receptor. Similarly, the yield of VLA-2 retained on a collagen I-Sepharose column was dramatically increased by pretreatment of A375 melanoma cell lysates with the mAb TS2/16. Altogether, these results indicate that the interaction of VLA beta 1 heterodimers with their ligands can be regulated by switching between differently active conformations inherent to the alpha beta 1 receptors.

Adhesion and costimulation of proliferative responses of human gamma delta T cells by interaction of VLA-4 and VLA-5 with fibronectin

The very late antigens, VLA-4 and VLA-5 belong to the beta 1 subfamily of integrins and have been identified as receptors for different binding regions of fibronectin (FN). We have detected VLA-4 and VLA-5, but not VLA-3 and VLA-6 expressed on human CD3+CD4-CD8- gamma delta TCR T cells by flow cytometry. Binding assays, performed on FN-coated plates, showed that activated CD25high (IL-2 receptor) but not resting CD25low gamma delta T cells specifically adhere to FN. The binding capacity is inhibited by the synthetic peptide GRGDSP which inhibits adhesion mediated by VLA-5 and a functional mAb directed against the alpha 4 subunit. Most FN binding is mediated by VLA-4. Additionally, resting gamma delta T cells cultured on coimmobilized anti-TCR delta 1 mAb and FN or the 40 kDa fragment (which contains the adhesion site in the IIICS domain recognized by VLA-4) for 96 h in the absence of exogeneous IL-2 showed significant increase in proliferation when compared to that of resting gamma delta T cells cultured on immobilized anti-TCR delta 1 mAb alone. Also expression of CD25 was significantly enhanced on cells cultured on coimmobilized anti-TCR delta 1 mAb and FN, indicative of T cell activation. Cross-linking of VLA-4 and VLA-5 molecules costimulated expansion of resting gamma delta T cells induced by cross-linked TCR delta 1. These results suggest that the gamma delta T cell beta 1 integrins, VLA-4 and VLA-5, may function in a dual capacity as signalling and adhesion molecules.

Multiple activation states of VLA-4. Mechanistic differences between adhesion to CS1/fibronectin and to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1

We examined the effects of a stimulatory anti-beta 1 mAb (TS2/16) and different divalent cations on VLA-4-mediated cell adhesion to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), to the fibronectin-derived CS1 peptide, and to larger fibronectin fragments. Using optimal binding conditions (in the presence of mAb TS2/16 and 1.0 mM Mn2+), the levels of VLA-4-mediated adhesion to VCAM-1 and to CS1 peptide were virtually indistinguishable, and half-maximal inhibition of adhesion to both ligands was achieved using similar levels of an anti-alpha 4 antibody. However, using suboptimal adhesion conditions, two critical differences between adhesion to CS1 peptide (or larger fibronectin fragments) and VCAM-1 were consistently observed. First, stimulation by added mAb TS2/16 had a substantially greater effect on adhesion to CS1 than to VCAM-1 and second, Ca2+ was much less able to support adhesion to CS1 than to VCAM-1. These two differences between adhesion to CS1 peptide and to VCAM-1 were most obvious among cell lines which synthesized inactive or partly active VLA-4 but were not obvious for fully active VLA-4. Together, these results not only reveal crucial differences in the mechanisms of VLA-4 binding to its two ligands, but also lead to increased understanding of the variable activation states of VLA-4. The differential ability to utilize Ca2+ displayed by VLA-4 in different states of activation and the activation of inactive or partly active VLA-4 by the addition of Mn2+ both point to divalent cation sites playing an essential role in determining VLA-4 regulation and ligand specificity.