title: Tripeptide RGD-dependent adhesion of articular chondrocytes to synovial fibroblasts.
abstract: Cell-cell interactions play an important role in the development of cartilage. Heterologous and homologous cell-cell interactions are critical for chondrogenic differentiation during development. Cell-cell interactions in the formation of fracture callus and cartilage neoplasia also invoke the process of cartilage differentiation. We have investigated cell-cell interactions between articular chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts and show that there was enhanced binding between these two cell types compared to background binding of the labelled cells to the tissue culture plastic surface. The binding of chondrocytes to fibroblasts was temperature- and calcium-dependent, suggesting ligand-integrin involvement. The peptide, GRGDSP, which competes with the ligand-integrin through the tripeptide RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid), almost completely inhibited chondrocyte attachment to synovial fibroblasts. The control peptide, GRGESP, had no inhibitory effect on binding. Antibodies to fibronectin (Fn) inhibited chondrocyte attachment by about 50%. Monoclonal antibodies to the alpha and beta chains of the fibronectin receptor (FnR) interfered with the attachment of chondrocytes to synovial fibroblasts. A combination of antibodies to Fn and to FnR did not completely abrogate chondrocyte binding, suggesting that other ligand-receptors were involved in the adhesion process. Chondrocytes and fibroblasts were shown to express membrane-associated Fn and FnR, by immunofluorescence. The alpha and beta chains of FnR, migrating at 110 and 140 kDa, respectively, could be immunoprecipitated from [35S]methionine-labelled synovial fibroblasts and chondrocytes. Northern blots showed the presence of mRNA for the alpha and beta chains of fibronectin receptors in fibroblasts and chondrocytes. Changes in cell shape were observed in chondrocytes on attachment to fibroblasts, i.e. the chondrocytes appeared fibroblast-like, suggesting that the chondrocytes had dedifferentiated. These studies suggest that chondrocytes specifically bind to synovial fibroblasts through RGD-dependent receptors. beta 1 Integrins are involved in this adhesion process and these heterlogous cell interactions appear to have a negative influence on chondrogenic differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08903-0019.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramachandrula
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tiku
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tiku
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D016023:Integrins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid