title: Integrins (alpha7beta1) in muscle function and survival. Disrupted expression in merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy.
abstract: Mutations in genes coding for dystrophin, for alpha, beta, gamma, and delta-sarcoglycans, or for the alpha2 chain of the basement membrane component merosin (laminin-2/4) cause various forms of muscular dystrophy. Analyses of integrins showed an abnormal expression and localization of alpha7beta1 isoforms in myofibers of merosin-deficient human patients and mice, but not in dystrophin-deficient or sarcoglycan-deficient humans and animals. It was shown previously that skeletal muscle fibers require merosin for survival and function (Vachon, P.H., F. Loechel, H. Xu, U.M. Wewer, and E. Engvall. 1996. J. Cell Biol. 134:1483-1497). Correction of merosin deficiency in vitro through cell transfection with the merosin alpha2 chain restored the normal localization of alpha7beta1D integrins as well as myotube survival. Overexpression of the apoptosis-suppressing molecule Bcl-2 also promoted the survival of merosin-deficient myotubes, but did not restore a normal expression of alpha7beta1D integrins. Blocking of beta1 integrins in normal myotubes induced apoptosis and severely reduced their survival. These findings (a) identify alpha7beta1D integrins as the de facto receptors for merosin in skeletal muscle; (b) indicate a merosin dependence for the accurate expression and membrane localization of alpha7beta1D integrins in myofibers; (c) provide a molecular basis for the critical role of merosin in myofiber survival; and (d) add new insights to the pathogenesis of neuromuscular disorders.
authors.affiliation: The Burnham Institute, La Jolla Cancer Research Center, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Vachon
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Loechel
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arahata
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Wewer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Engvall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D006224:Cricetinae; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D016023:Integrins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007797:Laminin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018101:Mice, Inbred mdx; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000151:congenital*; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000151:congenital; D017474:Receptors, Laminin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012508:Sarcolemma / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D016189:Dystrophin; D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins; D007797:Laminin; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D017474:Receptors, Laminin; C082908:integrin alpha7beta1