Jarmo Käpylä

Cellular Receptors of Extracellular Matrix Molecules

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of large collagen fibrils. Glycoproteins, such as fibronectin, can bind to collagen or form their own networks. Collagen fibrils are also decorated by proteoglycans, proteins that have large glycosaminoglycan sidechains. In addition, extracellular space often contains hyaluronan, a large glycosaminoglycan molecule that has no core protein. Basement membranes represent a specialized form of extracellular matrix. Basement membranes are built by laminin and type IV collagen networks. In multicellular animals cells are anchored to ECM and basement membranes. Cell locomotion during development and after tissue injury is also based on cellular interactions with different matrix molecules. Specific cell surface receptors mediate these interactions. The largest family of receptors, which mediates cell adhesion to fibronectin, laminins and collagens is called the integrins. Several other cellular receptors have also evolved to bind to various matrix components. Here, we review the basic facts about these receptors and shortly describe their role in human diseases, including cancer and inflammation.

Evolution of collagen-based adhesion systems

Collagens are large, triple-helical proteins that form fibrils and network-like structures in the extracellular matrix. The collagens may have participated in the evolution of the metazoans from their very earliest origins. Cell adhesion receptors, such as the integrins, are at least as old as the collagens. Still, the early metazoan cells might not have been able to anchor directly to collagen fibrils, since the integrin-type collagen receptors have only been identified in vertebrates. Instead, the early metazoans may have used integrin-type receptors in the recognition of collagen-binding glycoproteins. It is possible that specialized, high-avidity collagen-receptor integrins have become instrumental for the evolution of bone, cartilage, circulatory and immune systems in the chordates. In vertebrates, specific collagen-binding receptor tyrosine kinases send signals into cells after adhesion to collagen. These receptors are members of the discoidin domain receptor (DDR) group. The evolutionary history of DDRs is poorly known at this time. DDR orthologs have been found in many invertebrates, but their ability to function as collagen receptors has not yet been tested. The two main categories of collagens, fibrillar and non-fibrillar, already exist in the most primitive metazoans, such as the sponges. Interestingly, both integrin and DDR families seem to have members that favor either one or the other of these two groups of collagens.

The Fibril-associated Collagen IX Provides a Novel Mechanism for Cell Adhesion to Cartilaginous Matrix

Collagen IX is the prototype fibril-associated collagen with interruptions in triple helix. In human cartilage it covers collagen fibrils, but its putative cellular receptors have been unknown. The reverse transcription-PCR analysis of human fetal tissues suggested that based on their distribution all four collagen receptor integrins, namely α1β1, α2β1, α10β1, and α11β1, are possible receptors for collagen IX. Furthermore primary chondrocytes and chondrosarcoma cells express the four integrins simultaneously. Chondrosarcoma cells, as well as Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected to express α1β1, α2β1, or α10β1 integrin as their only collagen receptor, showed fast attachment and spreading on human recombinant collagen IX indicating that it is an effective cell adhesion protein. To further study the recognition of collagen IX we produced recombinant αI domains in Escherichia coli. For each of the four αI domains, collagen IX was among the best collagenous ligands, making collagen IX exceptional compared with all other collagen subtypes tested so far. Rotary shadowing electron microscopy images of both α1I- and α2I-collagen IX complexes unveiled only one binding site located in the COL3 domain close to the kink between it and the COL2 domain. The recognition of collagen IX by α2I was considered to represent a novel mechanism for two reasons. First, collagen IX has no GFOGER motif, and the identified binding region lacks any similar sequences. Second, the α2I domain mutations D219R and H258V, which both decreased binding to collagen I and GFOGER, had very different effects on its binding to collagen IX. D219R had no effect, and H258V prevented type IX binding. Thus, our results indicate that collagen IX has unique cell adhesion properties when compared with other collagens, and it provides a novel mechanism for cell adhesion to cartilaginous matrix.

Lumican inhibits cell migration through α2β1 integrin.

Lumican, an extracellular matrix protein of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan family, has been shown to impede melanoma progression by inhibiting cell migration. In the present study, we show that lumican targets α2β1 integrin thereby inhibiting cell migration. A375 melanoma cells were transfected with siRNA directed against the α2 integrin subunit. Compared to A375 control cells, the anti-migratory effect of lumican was abrogated on transfected A375 cells. Moreover, lumican inhibited the chemotactic migration of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with α2 integrin subunit (CHO-A2) but not that of wild-type CHO cells (CHO-WT) lacking this subunit. In contrast to CHO-WT cells, we observed in time-lapse microscopy a decrease of CHO-A2 cell migration speed in presence of lumican. Focal adhesion kinase phosphorylated at tyrosine-397 (pFAK) and total FAK were analysed in CHO-WT and CHO-A2 cells. A significant decrease of the ratio pFAK/FAK was shown in presence of recombinant human lumican. Using solid phase assays, a direct binding between lumican and the α2β1 integrin was demonstrated. This interaction did not involve the glycan moiety of lumican and was cation independent. Lumican was also able to bind the activated I domain of the α2 integrin subunit with a K(d)≥200nM. In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time that the inhibition of cell migration by lumican depends on a direct binding between the core protein of lumican and the α2β1 integrin.

Molecular mechanism of α2β1 integrin interaction with human echovirus 1

Conformational activation increases the affinity of integrins to their ligands. On ligand binding, further changes in integrin conformation elicit cellular signalling. Unlike any of the natural ligands of α2β1 integrin, human echovirus 1 (EV1) seemed to bind more avidly a ‘closed’ than an activated ‘open’ form of the α2I domain. Furthermore, a mutation E336A in the α2 subunit, which inactivated α2β1 as a collagen receptor, enhanced α2β1 binding to EV1. Thus, EV1 seems to recognize an inactive integrin, and not even the virus binding could trigger the conformational activation of α2β1. This was supported by the fact that the integrin clustering by EV1 did not activate the p38 MAP kinase pathway, a signalling pathway that was shown to be dependent on E336‐related conformational changes in α2β1. Furthermore, the mutation E336A did neither prevent EV1 induced and α2β1 mediated protein kinase C activation nor EV1 internalization. Thus, in its entry strategy EV1 seems to rely on the activation of signalling pathways that are dependent on α2β1 clustering, but do not require the conformational regulation of the receptor.

A small-molecule inhibitor of integrin α2β1 introduces a new strategy for antithrombotic therapy

Interaction of blood platelets with vascular collagen is an initiating event in haemostasis and thrombus formation. Based on molecular modelling of human integrin alpha2I domain and cell-based screening assays we have developed sulfonamide derivatives, a mechanistically novel class of molecules. These molecules show antiplatelet efficacy by selectively inhibiting alpha2beta1 integrin-mediated collagen binding. One sulfonamide derivative, named BTT-3016, showed inhibitory capacity in several assessments of human platelet interaction with collagen. It inhibited about 90% of the aggregation of gel-filtered magnesium-supplemented platelets and 70% of aggregation in PPACK-anticoagulated platelet-rich plasma when stimulated with collagen but not with ADP. The antiplatelet activity of BTT-3016 was dependent on alpha2beta1 integrin, since in collagen binding test BTT-3016 had no effect on the platelets derived from alpha2 integrin null mice. When tested in an in vivo model in mice, BTT-3016 clearly reduced thrombus formation on the vessel wall after vascular injury. Furthermore, BTT-3016 prolonged tail-bleeding time in a manner comparable to aspirin. We show that new alpha2beta1 inhibitors exert collagen-specific antiplatelet activity and regulate thrombus growth in vivo without compromising primary haemostasis more than aspirin. We suggest that the alpha2beta1 inhibiting strategy could be further developed for the prevention and treatment of arterial thrombosis.

Collagen XXIII, Novel Ligand for Integrin α2β1 in the Epidermis

Cellular receptors for collagens belong to the family of β1 integrins. In the epidermis, integrin α2β1 is the only collagen-binding integrin present. Its expression is restricted to basal keratinocytes with uniform distribution on the cell surface of those cells. Although α2β1 receptors localized at the basal surface interact with basement membrane proteins collagen IV and laminin 111 and 332, no interaction partners have been reported for these integrin molecules at the lateral and apical membranes of basal keratinocytes. Solid phase binding and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy demonstrate that collagen XXIII, a member of the transmembrane collagens, directly interacts with integrin α2β1 in an ion- and conformation-dependent manner. The two proteins co-localize on the surface of basal keratinocytes. Furthermore, collagen XXIII is sufficient to induce adhesion and spreading of keratinocytes, a process that is significantly reduced in the absence of functional integrin α2β1.

Structure of Collagen Receptor Integrin α1I Domain Carrying the Activating Mutation E317A

Background: The integrin αI domain undergoes a conformational change during activation. Results: The crystal structure of an activated αI domain is different from the reported open and closed states. Conclusion: Our structure mimics the state where the Arg287-Glu317 ion pair is just broken during the activation process. Significance: The activation mechanism of the collagen receptor integrins differs from the other integrins. We have analyzed the structure and function of the integrin α1I domain harboring a gain-of-function mutation E317A. To promote protein crystallization, a double variant with an additional C139S mutation was used. In cell adhesion assays, the E317A mutation promoted binding to collagen. Similarly, the double mutation C139S/E317A increased adhesion compared with C139S alone. Furthermore, soluble α1I C139S/E317A was a higher avidity collagen binder than α1I C139S, indicating that the double variant represents an activated form. The crystal structure of the activated variant of α1I was solved at 1.9 Å resolution. The E317A mutation results in the unwinding of the αC helix, but the metal ion has moved toward loop 1, instead of loop 2 in the open α2I. Furthermore, unlike in the closed αI domains, the metal ion is pentacoordinated and, thus, prepared for ligand binding. Helix 7, which has moved downward in the open α2I structure, has not changed its position in the activated α1I variant. During the integrin activation, Glu335 on helix 7 binds to the metal ion at the metal ion-dependent adhesion site (MIDAS) of the β1 subunit. Interestingly, in our cell adhesion assays E317A could activate collagen binding even after mutating Glu335. This indicates that the stabilization of helix 7 into its downward position is not required if the α1 MIDAS is already open. To conclude, the activated α1I domain represents a novel conformation of the αI domain, mimicking the structural state where the Arg287-Glu317 ion pair has just broken during the integrin activation.

Citrullination of collagen II affects integrin-mediated cell adhesion in a receptor-specific manner

Citrullinated collagen II (CII) is a well‐known autoantigen in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the direct effects of CII citrullination on cell behavior have not been described. To study whether citrullination of CII could affect cellular functions, we measured the adhesion of 3 different cell types (human Saos2 osteosarcoma cells, human synovial fibroblasts, and rat mesenchymal stem cells) with impedance‐based technology. The binding of different collagen receptor integrins to citrullinated collagen was studied by CHO cell lines, each overexpressing 1 of the 4 human collagen receptors on the cell surface, and with solid‐phase binding assays, using the recombinant human integrin α1I, α2I, α10I, and α11I domains. Collagen citrullination decreased the adhesion of synovial fibroblasts ~50% (P<0.05) and mesenchymal stem cells ~40% (P<0.05) by specifically decreasing the binding of integrins α10β1 and α11β1 to arginine‐containing motifs, such as GFOGER. In contrast, citrullination had only a minor effect on the function of α1β1 and α2β1 integrins, which have been reported to play a critical role in regulating leukocyte function. Molecular modeling was used to explain the detected functional differences at the structural level. Given that the integrins regulate cell metabolism, proliferation, and migration, we suggest that collagen citrullination modifies the pathogenesis of RA. Here, CII citrullination was shown to decrease the survival of mesenchymal stem cells.—Sipilä, K., Haag, S., Denessiouk, K., Käpylä, J., Peters, E. C., Denesyuk, A., Hansen, U., Konttinen, Y., Johnson, M. S., Holmdahl, R., Heino, J. Citrullination of collagen II affects integrin‐mediated cell adhesion in a receptor‐specific manner. FASEB J. 28, 3758–3768 (2014). www.fasebj.org

Effects of signal peptide mutations on processing of Bacillus stearothermophilus α-amylase in Escherichia coli

Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase has a signal peptide typical for proteins exported by Gram-positive bacteria. There is only one signal peptidase processing site when the protein is exported from the original host, but when it is exported by Escherichia coli, two alternative sites are utilized. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to study the processing in E. coli. Processing sites for 13 B. stearothermophilus alpha-amylases carrying mutations in their signal peptide were determined. Processing of the signal peptide was remarkably tolerant to mutations, because switching between the alternative sites was possible. The length and the sequence of the region between the hydrophobic core and the cleavage site was crucial for determining the choice of the processing site. Some mutations more distal to the cleavage site also affected the site preference.