Polarisation of T-cadherin to the leading edge of migrating vascular cells in vitro: a function in vascular cell motility?
Both histological and in vitro studies indicate a relationship between T-cadherin levels and acquisition of a modulated, migratory phenotype by vascular cells. This study further examines a role for T-cadherin in relation to cell migration and adhesion. Fluorescence microscopic examination of T-cadherin localisation in confluent cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), human aortic smooth muscle cells and the human carcinoma cell line ECV-304 revealed global distribution over the entire cell body, and with only slight enrichment at cell borders. This contrasts with restricted cell-cell junction localisation of classical cadherin (for example, VE-cadherin in HUVEC). In wounded cultures, T-cadherin polarised to the leading edge of cells migrating into the wound area, again contrasting with classical VE-cadherin, which was undetectable in this region. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that potential signalling functions of T-cadherin at the leading edge are unrelated to physical interactions with caveolin. Adherence of HUVEC onto a monolayer of T-cadherin-transfected L929 cells is significantly reduced compared with adhesion onto control (T-cadherin-negative) L929. Thus T-cadherin is not required for maintenance of intercellular adhesion, but may rather function as a signalling molecule involved in cell-cell recognition and sensing of the environment in processes where cell detachment occurs.
Philippova
Maria
M
Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, Department of Research, ZLF 320, Basel University Hospital, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.
Ivanov
Danila
D
Tkachuk
Vsevolod
V
Erne
Paul
P
Resink
Therese J
TJ
D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051242:Caveolin 1; D022461:Caveolins / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology
C495540:CAV1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D051242:Caveolin 1; D022461:Caveolins; C099972:H-cadherin