The CXC-chemokine CXCL4 interacts with integrins implicated in angiogenesis

PLoS One. 2008 Jul 16;3(7):e2657. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002657.

Abstract

The human CXC-chemokine CXCL4 is a potent inhibitor of tumor-induced angiogenesis. Considering that CXCL4 is sequestered in platelet alpha-granules and released following platelet activation in the vicinity of vessel wall injury, we tested the hypothesis that CXCL4 might function as a ligand for integrins. Integrins are a family of adhesion receptors that play a crucial role in angiogenesis by regulating early angiogenic processes, such as endothelial cell adhesion and migration. Here, we show that CXCL4 interacts with alphavbeta3 on the surface of alphavbeta3-CHO. More importantly, human umbilical vein endothelial cells adhere to immobilized CXCL4 through alphavbeta3 integrin, and also through other integrins, such as alphavbeta5 and alpha5beta1. We further demonstrate that CXCL4-integrin interaction is of functional significance in vitro, since immobilized CXCL4 supported endothelial cell spreading and migration in an integrin-dependent manner. Soluble CXCL4, in turn, inhibits integrin-dependent endothelial cell adhesion and migration. As a whole, our study identifies integrins as novel receptors for CXCL4 that may contribute to its antiangiogenic effect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Movement
  • Chemokines, CXC / metabolism
  • Chemokines, CXC / physiology*
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Integrin alpha5beta1 / metabolism
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3 / metabolism
  • Integrins / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic*
  • Platelet Factor 4 / metabolism
  • Platelet Factor 4 / physiology*
  • Receptors, Vitronectin / metabolism

Substances

  • Chemokines, CXC
  • Integrin alpha5beta1
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3
  • Integrins
  • Receptors, Vitronectin
  • integrin alphaVbeta5
  • Platelet Factor 4