title: Distinct roles for tetraspanins CD9, CD63 and CD81 in the formation  of multinucleated giant cells.
abstract: Members of the tetraspanin superfamily of proteins are implicated in a variety of complex cell processes including cell fusion. However, the contribution of individual tetraspanins to these processes has proved difficult to define. Here we report the use of recombinant extracellular regions of tetraspanins to investigate the role of specific members of this family in the fusion of monocytes to form multinucleated giant cells (MGC). In contrast to their positive requirement in sperm-egg fusion, previous studies using antibodies and knockout mice have indicated a negative regulatory role for tetraspanins CD9 and CD81 in this process. In an in vitro model of fusion using human monocytes, we have confirmed observations that antibodies to CD9 and CD81 enhance MGC formation; however, in contrast to previous investigations, we found that all members of a panel of antibodies to CD63 inhibited fusion. Moreover, recombinant proteins corresponding to the large extracellular domains (EC2s) of CD63 and CD9 inhibited MGC formation, whereas the EC2s of CD81 and CD151 had no effect. The potent inhibition of fusion and binding of labelled CD63 EC2 to monocytes under fusogenic conditions suggest a direct interaction with a membrane component required for fusion. Our findings indicate that the tetraspanins CD9, CD63 and CD81 are all involved in MGC formation, but play distinct roles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Varadarajan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parthasarathy
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Higginbottom
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Moseley
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Gorakh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mal
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hulme
authors.forename: Peter N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Monk
authors.forename: Lynda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Partridge
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000276:immunology; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D060225:Tetraspanin 28; D060245:Tetraspanin 29; D060149:Tetraspanin 30
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C554586:CD63 protein, human; C554798:CD81 protein, human; C554869:CD9 protein, human; C554587:Cd63 protein, mouse; C554799:Cd81 protein, mouse; C554870:Cd9 protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D060225:Tetraspanin 28; D060245:Tetraspanin 29; D060149:Tetraspanin 30; D003208:Concanavalin A; D005982:Glutathione Transferase