Regulation of keratinocyte terminal differentiation by integrin-extracellular matrix interactions

1993 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.M. Watt ◽  
M.D. Kubler ◽  
N.A. Hotchin ◽  
L.J. Nicholson ◽  
J.C. Adams

Suspension-induced terminal differentiation of human epidermal keratinocytes can be inhibited by fibronectin through binding to the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin. We have investigated the effect of fibronectin on expression of integrins and proteins of the actin cytoskeleton and have explored the nature of the differentiation stimulus by testing different combinations of anti-integrin monoclonal antibodies or extracellular matrix proteins in the suspension assay. Fibronectin prolonged cell surface expression of beta 1 integrins but did not overcome the inhibition of intracellular transport of integrins that occurs when keratinocytes are placed in suspension. Fibronectin did not prevent the suspension-induced decline in the level of mRNAs encoding the beta 1 integrin subunit, actin, filamin and alpha-actinin; furthermore, the inhibition of terminal differentiation did not depend on the state of assembly of microfilaments or microtubules. Terminal differentiation could be partially inhibited by an adhesion-blocking monoclonal antibody to the beta 1 integrin subunit or by a combination of adhesion blocking antibodies recognising the alpha subunits that associate with beta 1 (alpha 2, alpha 3 and alpha 5). Although laminin and type IV collagen do not inhibit terminal differentiation individually, they were inhibitory when added to cells in combination with a low concentration of fibronectin. We conclude that the proportion of keratinocyte beta 1 integrins occupied by ligand can regulate the initiation of terminal differentiation independently of the state of assembly of the actin cytoskeleton.

1995 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 1209-1219 ◽  
Author(s):  
N A Hotchin ◽  
A Gandarillas ◽  
F M Watt

Integrins of the beta 1 family play a central role in controlling adhesion and terminal differentiation within the epidermis. When human epidermal keratinocytes undergo terminal differentiation, intracellular transport of newly synthesized integrins is inhibited, and mature receptors are lost from the cell surface. We have examined the mechanisms underlying these processes, using an experimental model in which keratinocytes are placed in suspension to induce terminal differentiation. The block in intracellular transport was keratinocyte- and integrin-specific since it was not observed when fibroblasts were placed in suspension and did not affect E-cadherin synthesis in suspended keratinocytes. Newly synthesized beta 1 integrins associated with an endoplasmic reticulum resident protein, calnexin; the association was prolonged when keratinocytes were placed in suspension, suggesting a role for calnexin in the inhibition of transport. After 24 h, the level of beta 1 integrin mRNA declines in suspended keratinocytes, reflecting inhibition of gene transcription, but in fibroblasts, the level remained constant. Transport of integrins could be blocked in both adherent keratinocytes and fibroblasts by inhibiting total protein synthesis, raising the possibility that transport is coupled to de novo integrin synthesis. The fate of receptors on the surface of keratinocytes was followed by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, immunoelectron microscopy, and biochemical analysis: with the onset of terminal differentiation, endocytosed receptors were transported to the lysosomes. These experiments reveal novel mechanisms by which integrin levels can be controlled. Together with our earlier evidence for transcriptional regulation and affinity modulation of integrins, they highlight the complexity of the mechanisms which ensure that the onset of terminal differentiation is linked to detachment of keratinocytes from the underlying basement membrane.


1991 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.J. Nicholson ◽  
F.M. Watt

We have examined the expression of fibronectin and the alpha 5 beta 1 fibronectin receptor during terminal differentiation of human epidermal keratinocytes, using involucrin as a terminal differentiation marker. The levels of mRNAs encoding fibronectin and the alpha 5 and beta 1 integrin subunits were measured in keratinocyte populations that had been enriched for involucrin-negative or -positive cells by unit gravity sedimentation or suspension-induced terminal differentiation. All three mRNAs decreased in abundance during terminal differentiation, and the corresponding proteins were localised by immunofluorescence to the basal layer in stratified colonies. We also examined expression in ndk, a strain of epidermal cells with a complete block in terminal differentiation, which, as a result, do not express involucrin. Messenger RNA levels for fibronectin and the alpha 5 and beta 1 subunits were higher in ndk, than in unfractionated keratinocytes and the corresponding proteins were expressed by all ndk, consistent with a basal keratinocyte phenotype. We conclude that expression of fibronectin and the alpha 5 beta 1 fibronectin receptor decreases during terminal differentiation and that such changes are likely to play a role in the selective migration of terminally differentiating cells from the basal epidermal layer.


1996 ◽  
Vol 109 (13) ◽  
pp. 3013-3023 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J. Zhu ◽  
F.M. Watt

Cell adhesion molecules are not only required for maintenance of tissue integrity, but also regulate many aspects of cell behaviour, including growth and differentiation. While the regulatory functions of integrin extracellular matrix receptors in keratinocytes are well established, such functions have not been investigated for the primary receptors that mediate keratinocyte intercellular adhesion, the cadherins. To examine cadherin function in normal human epidermal keratinocytes we used a retroviral vector to introduce a dominant negative E-cadherin mutant, consisting of the extracellular domain of H-2Kd and the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of E-cadherin. As a control a vector containing the same construct, but with the catenin binding site destroyed, was prepared. High levels of expression of the constructs were achieved; the dominant negative mutant, but not the control, formed complexes with alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin. In cells expressing the dominant negative mutant there was a 5-fold decrease in the level of endogenous cadherins and a 3-fold increase in the level of beta-catenin. Cell-cell adhesion and stratification were inhibited by the dominant negative mutant and desmosome formation was reduced. Expression of the mutant resulted in reduced levels of the alpha 2 beta 1 and alpha 3 beta 1 integrins and increased cell motility, providing further evidence for cross-talk between cadherins and the beta 1 integrins. In view of the widely documented loss of E-cadherin in keratinocyte tumours it was surprising that the dominant negative mutant had an inhibitory effect on keratinocyte proliferation and stimulated terminal differentiation even under conditions in which intercellular adhesion was prevented. These results establish a role for cadherins in regulating keratinocyte growth and differentiation and raise interesting questions as to the relative importance of cell adhesion-dependent and -independent mechanisms.


2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 850-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Allombert-Blaise ◽  
S Tamiji ◽  
L Mortier ◽  
H Fauvel ◽  
M Tual ◽  
...  

1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (8) ◽  
pp. 5199-5207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gereon J. Glombitza ◽  
Elisabeth Becker ◽  
Hans Wilhelm Kaiser ◽  
Konrad Sandhoff

2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 453-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Levy ◽  
Simon Broad ◽  
Dagmar Diekmann ◽  
Richard D. Evans ◽  
Fiona M. Watt

In keratinocytes, the β1 integrins mediate adhesion to the extracellular matrix and also regulate the initiation of terminal differentiation. To explore the relationship between these functions, we stably infected primary human epidermal keratinocytes and an undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma line, SCC4, with retroviruses encoding wild-type and mutant chick β1 integrin subunits. We examined the ability of adhesion-blocking chick β1-specific antibodies to inhibit suspension-induced terminal differentiation of primary human keratinocytes and the ability of the chick β1 subunit to promote spontaneous differentiation of SCC4. A D154A point mutant clustered in focal adhesions but was inactive in the differentiation assays, showing that differentiation regulation required a functional ligand-binding domain. The signal transduced by β1 integrins in normal keratinocytes was “do not differentiate” (transduced by ligand-occupied receptors) as opposed to “do differentiate” (transduced by unoccupied receptors), and the signal depended on the absolute number, rather than on the proportion, of occupied receptors. Single and double point mutations in cyto-2 and -3, the NPXY motifs, prevented focal adhesion targeting without inhibiting differentiation control. However, deletions in the proximal part of the cytoplasmic domain, affecting cyto-1, abolished the differentiation-regulatory ability of the β1 subunit. We conclude that distinct signaling pathways are involved in β1 integrin–mediated adhesion and differentiation control in keratinocytes.


1992 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 743-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.T. Kim ◽  
S. Ishihara ◽  
C.C. Lee ◽  
S.K. Akiyama ◽  
K.M. Yamada ◽  
...  

We studied the mechanism by which cell adhesiveness becomes activated when keratinocytes are removed from skin and placed into cell culture. Our results suggest that activation involves altered beta 1 integrin subunit glycosylation accompanied by an increase in cell surface beta 1 integrin receptors. Activated keratinocytes contained two forms of the beta 1 integrin subunit, approximately 93 kDa and approximately 113 kDa. As shown by pulse-chase experiments, the smaller represented the cytoplasmic precursor of the larger, and only the 113 kDa mature form was detected in integrin receptors expressed at the cell surface. Pre-activated keratinocytes contained beta 1 integrin subunits ranging from approximately 97 to 110 kDa. These beta 1 subunits had been processed through the Golgi, based on resistance to endoglycosidase-H treatment, and were not converted to 113 kDa subunits during subsequent cell culture. Experiments with endoglycosidase-F showed that differences in the apparent sizes of beta 1 integrin subunits observed in pre-activated and activated keratinocytes could be attributed to differences in subunit glycosylation. Smaller beta 1 subunits found in pre-activated keratinocytes, like the precursor beta 1 subunits of activated cells, appeared to be less efficient in reaching the cell surface. Overall, a approximately 10-fold increase in the level of cell surface integrin receptors occurred concomitant with the increased proportion of 113 kDa beta 1 subunits found in activated cells. Endoglycosidase-F experiments also indicated that there were changes in keratinocyte alpha subunits associated with beta 1. In related experiments, keratinocytes cultured in low Ca2+, serum-free MCDB medium for 4 days proliferated but their adhesiveness did not become activated. Therefore, keratinocyte proliferation and activation of adhesion are regulated separately. Finally, substantial activation of keratinocytes was observed when serum was added to cells cultured in MCDB with serum, indicating a role for serum factors in the activation process.


2002 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 643-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Lityńska ◽  
Malgorzta Przybyło ◽  
Ewa Pocheć ◽  
Piotr Laidler

Integrin subunits present on human bladder cells displayed heterogeneous functional specificity in adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins (ECM). The non-malignant cell line (HCV29) showed significantly higher adhesion efficiency to collagen IV, laminin (LN) and fibronectin (FN) than cancer (T24, Hu456) and v-raf transfected (BC3726) cell lines. Specific antibodies to the alpha(2), alpha(5) and beta(1) integrin subunits inhibited adhesion of the non-malignant cells, indicating these integrin participation in the adhesion to ECM proteins. In contrast, adhesion of cancer cells was not inhibited by specific antibodies to the beta(1) integrin subunit. Antibodies to alpha(3) integrin increased adhesion of cancer cells to collagen, LN and FN, but also of the HCV29 line with collagen. It seems that alpha(3) subunit plays a major role in modulation of other integrin receptors especially in cancer cells. Differences in adhesion to ECM proteins between the non-malignant and cancer cell lines in response to Gal and Fuc were not evident, except for the v-raf transfected cell line which showed a distinct about 6-fold increased adhesion to LN on addition of both saccharides. N-Acetylneuraminic acid inhibited adhesion of all cell lines to LN and FN irrespective of their malignancy.


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