Targeting of alpha(v) integrins interferes with FAK activation and smooth muscle cell migration and invasion

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2005-06, Vol.331 (2), p.404-412
• Main Authors: Varadarajulu, Jeeva, Laser, Martin, Hupp, Markus, Wu, Rongxue, Hauck, Christof R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cell Movement - drug effects; Coronary Vessels - cytology; Enzyme Activation - drug effects; Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Focal Adhesions - drug effects; Humans; Integrin alphaV - metabolism; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - cytology; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - drug effects; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - enzymology; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - metabolism; Phosphorylation - drug effects; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - metabolism; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Substrate Specificity; Vitronectin - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0006-291X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.03.175

Aberrant migration of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is a key feature of restenosis. Since extracellular matrix proteins and their receptors of the integrin family play a critical role in this process, it is instrumental to understand their contribution to cell migration and invasive motility of SMC on the molecular level. Therefore, we investigated the role of alpha(v)-containing integrins expressed by primary human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (hCASMCs) in vitronectin (VN)-initiated signaling events and cell migration. In hCASMC plated on VN, alpha(v)-containing integrins were localized at focal adhesion sites. Haptotactic stimulation through VN led to a dose-dependent increase in cell migration and concomitantly to enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. Both events were completely blocked by a specific inhibitor of integrin alpha(v). Additionally, the integrin alpha(v) inhibitor abolished PDGF-BB-stimulated chemotactic migration. Confocal microscopy confirmed the increased tyrosine phosphorylation at VN-initiated focal contact sites in hCASMC, that was abolished upon alpha(v) inhibition. In vitro invasion of hCASMC was severely compromised in the presence of the integrin alpha(v) inhibitor paralleled by decreased levels of secreted matrix metalloprotease 2 (MMP-2). Together, integrin alpha(v) inhibition abrogates tyrosine phosphorylation at focal adhesion sites and diminishes MMP-2 secretion leading to reduced migration and invasion of hCASMCs.