title: A dynamic podosome-like structure of epithelial cells.
abstract: Focal contacts and hemidesmosomes are cell-matrix adhesion structures of cultured epithelial cells. While focal contacts link the extracellular matrix to microfilaments, hemidesmosomes make connections with intermediate filaments. We have analyzed hemidesmosome assembly in 804G carcinoma cells. Our data show that hemidesmosomes are organized around a core of actin filaments that appears early during cell adhesion. These actin structures look similar to podosomes described in cells of mesenchymal origin. These podosome-like structures are distinct from focal contacts and specifically contain Arp3 (Arp2/3 complex), cortactin, dynamin, gelsolin, N-WASP, VASP, Grb2 and src-like kinase(s). The integrin alpha3beta1 is localized circularly around F-actin cores and co-distributes with paxillin, vinculin, and zyxin. We also show that the maintenance of the actin core and hemidesmosomes is dependent on actin polymerization, src-family kinases, and Grb2, but not on microtubules. Video microscopy analysis reveals that assembly of hemidesmosomes is preceded by recruitment of beta4 integrin subunit to the actin core before its positioning at hemidesmosomes. When 804G cells are induced to migrate, actin cores as well as hemidesmosomes disappear and beta4 integrin subunit becomes co-localized with dynamic actin at leading edges. We show that podosome-like structures are not unique to cells of mesenchymal origin, but also appear in epithelial cells, where they seem to be related to basement membrane adhesion.
authors.affiliation: DIBIT, Department of Biological and Technological Research, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy. spinardi.laura@hsr.it
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spinardi
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rietdorf
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nitsch
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bono
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tacchetti
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Way
authors.forename: Pier Carlo
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Marchisio
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells; D015638:Cytochalasin D / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D022002:Hemidesmosomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007700:Kinetics; D015739:Nocodazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D006133:Growth Substances; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1; D015638:Cytochalasin D; D015739:Nocodazole