title: Vitreous-induced modulation of integrins in retinal pigment epithelial cells: effects of fibroblast growth factor-2.
abstract: Growth in the presence of vitreous results in transformation of human RPE cells from an epithelioid to a fibroblast-like appearance and leads to an elevation of the expression of alpha(5) and alpha(2) integrins, while the level of alpha(3) integrin is reduced. These changes are inhibited by the presence of FGF-2. Vitreous treatment increases mobility, as does antibody neutralization of FGF-2 or antibody blockade of FGF receptors. The vitreous-induced rise in mobility depends on an increase in alpha(5) integrin expression since it is inhibited by anti-alpha(5) integrin antibodies. Expression of alpha(5) integrin as a result of infection of RPE cells with an alpha(5) integrin-encoding adenovirus induced morphological transformation and an increase in mobility similar to that seen with vitreous. It is concluded that a decrease in FGF-2 plays an important role in vitreous-induced alterations of RPE cell morphology, integrin expression and mobility. High FGF-2 levels prevent at least some of the increased mobility of RPE cells induced by vitreous. This is mediated via extracellular FGF-2 binding to FGF receptor(s) since antibodies to FGF-2 or to its receptor(s) mimic the effects of vitreous. Changes in mobility and morphology involve altered alpha(5) integrin expression since mobility is blocked by antibodies against these proteins while elevated alpha(5) integrin expression increases mobility and leads to morphological changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meitinger
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D001345:Autoradiography; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000502:physiology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D016023:Integrins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2