title: Monoclonal antibodies to the murine VLA-6 alpha-chain trigger homotypic lymphocyte aggregation.
abstract: Very Late Antigen-6 (VLA-6) is a laminin receptor found on T cells, macrophages and platelets and may function as an activation antigen. Here we describe that two monoclonal antibodies (mAb) targeting the VLA-6 alpha-chain are capable of inducing homotypic aggregation of murine T-cell lines (3A9 and C10 cells). 3A9 and C10 cells are of the memory phenotype (CD4+, CD8-, CD44+, CD45+) and express VLA-6 abundantly. The VLA-6-induced aggregation is temperature dependent, energy requiring, and involves the cytoskeleton. In addition, divalent cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) are also necessary for aggregation. The VLA-6-induced aggregation is not inhibited with mAb targeting the LFA-1/ICAM-1, VLA-4/VCAM-1 and CD2/LFA-3 adhesion pairs. We conclude that VLA-6 has a broader function and can serve as an activation molecule, triggering homotypic aggregation of T-cell subsets.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Wuthrich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D051379:Mice; D016029:Receptors, Very Late Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016029:Receptors, Very Late Antigen