Molecular and cellular properties of PECAM-1 (endoCAM/CD31): a novel vascular cell-cell adhesion molecule.
PECAM-1 is a 130-120-kD integral membrane glycoprotein found on the surface of platelets, at endothelial intercellular junctions in culture, and on cells of myeloid lineage. Previous studies have shown that it is a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily and that antibodies against the bovine form of this protein (endoCAM) can inhibit endothelial cell-cell interactions. These data suggest that PECAM-1 may function as a vascular cell adhesion molecule. The function of this molecule has been further evaluated by transfecting cells with a full-length PECAM-1 cDNA. Transfected COS-7, mouse 3T3 and L cells expressed a 130-120-kD glycoprotein on their cell surface that reacted with anti-PECAM-1 polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. COS-7 and 3T3 cell transfectants formed cell-cell junctions that were highly enriched in PECAM-1, reminiscent of its distribution at endothelial cell-cell borders. In contrast, this protein remained diffusely distributed within the plasma membrane of PECAM-1 transfected cells that were in contact with mock transfectants. Mouse L cells stably transfected with PECAM-1 demonstrated calcium-dependent aggregation that was inhibited by anti-PECAM antibodies. These results demonstrate that PECAM-1 mediates cell-cell adhesion and support the idea that it may be involved in some of the interactive events taking place during thrombosis, wound healing, and angiogenesis.
Albelda
S M
SM
Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104.
Muller
W A
WA
Buck
C A
CA
Newman
P J
PJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology*; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology*; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002118:Calcium