Distinct roles for tetraspanins CD9, CD63 and CD81 in the formation  of multinucleated giant cells.
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.
Parthasarathy
Varadarajan
V
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, UK.
Martin
Francine
F
Higginbottom
Adrian
A
Murray
Helen
H
Moseley
Gregory W
GW
Read
Robert C
RC
Mal
Gorakh
G
Hulme
Rachel
R
Monk
Peter N
PN
Partridge
Lynda J
LJ
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
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