title: Stabilin-2 mediates homophilic cell-cell interactions via its FAS1 domains.
abstract: Stabilin-2 was recently shown to mediate a heterophilic interaction with integrin alpha M beta 2 via its FAS1 domain. Here, we demonstrate that stabilin-2 also mediates homophilic cell-cell interactions. L cells expressing stabilin-2 mediate a significant level of cell aggregation, and this aggregation is significantly inhibited by anti-stabilin-2 antibody. Stabilin-2-mediated aggregation is mediated by homophilic interactions and enhanced in the presence of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+). Interestingly, exogenous addition of FAS1 domains but not EGF-like domains enhances stabilin-2-mediated cell aggregation, suggesting that exogenous FAS1 domains may form polymeric structure with FAS1 domains of stabilin-2. Together, these data show the participation of stabilin-2 in homophilic cell adhesion and role of FAS1 domains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Dongguk University, Kyungju 780-714, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mi-Yeon
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: In-San
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kim