title: VLA-4-dependent myeloma cell adhesion.
abstract: In multiple myeloma, the malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow attach to stromal elements using several adhesion receptors. The integrin VLA-4 plays a major role in mediating myeloma cell adhesion to the stroma, by interacting with its ligands VCAM-1 and fibronectin. VLA-4, as well as other integrins, can be expressed in different states of activation, which convey different levels of adhesion. Modulation of VLA-4 adhesive activity by external stimuli has been demonstrated for hematopoietic progenitor cells and lymphocytes, and can represent a potential mechanism contributing to the localization of myeloma cells in the bone marrow. In this review we have summarized data on the characterization of VLA-4-mediated myeloma cell adhesion, and we present potential mechanisms of modulation of VLA-4 activity. In addition, we also speculate on the signalling generated upon interaction of myeloma VLA-4 with its ligands on the survival of these cells in the bone marrow.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Departamento de Inmunología Velázquez 144, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sanz-Rodríguez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teixidó
mesh_terms: D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000473:pathology*; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing