title: Vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-Ig fusion protein defines distinct affinity states of the very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) receptor.
abstract: The Very Late Antigen-4 receptor (VLA-4) (alpha 4 beta 1) is constitutively expressed on leukocytes and plays a role in cell trafficking, activation and development through its interaction with two alternative ligands, Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule (VCAM-1) and fibronectin (FN). VLA-4-dependent cell adhesion is augmented by various stimuli, such as divalent cations, certain beta 1-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and cell activation. However, the steps of the adhesive process which they affect are currently undefined. In order to investigate whether or not these stimuli affect the primary step, VLA-4/ligand binding, we employed a recombinant VCAM-IgG fusion protein (VCAM-Ig) as a soluble ligand for VLA-4. Using this soluble ligand, we have directly demonstrated that the VLA-4 receptor can exist in at least three different affinity states on the cell surface. Two distinct high affinity states are induced on normal peripheral blood T cells, one by the anti-beta 1 mAb TS2/16, and one of 15-20 fold higher affinity by the divalent cation Mn2+. Interestingly, activation through the T cell receptor (TcR), through CD31 or by the Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1 beta chemokine (MIP-1 beta) do not detectably increase VLA-4 affinity although they do augment VLA-4 dependent cell adhesion in vitro. Thus, VCAM-Ig binding defines high affinity VLA-4 receptors, revealing unique effects of the TS2/16 mAb and Mn2+ cations in vitro, and distinguishes VLA-4/VCAM interactions from subsequent steps in cell adhesion.
authors.affiliation: Biogen, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jakubowski
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bixler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lobb
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Burkly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001665:Binding Sites; D016466:CHO Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D018925:Chemokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D006224:Cricetinae; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins; D008345:Manganese / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice / Q000276:immunology; D015846:Monokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D016029:Receptors, Very Late Antigen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008024:Ligands; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins; D015846:Monokines; D016029:Receptors, Very Late Antigen; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D008345:Manganese