Kamila Bledzka

The integrin co-activator kindlin-3 is expressed and functional in a non-hematopoietic cell, the endothelial cell

Integrin activation is crucial for numerous cellular responses, including cell adhesion, migration, and survival. Recent studies in mice have specifically emphasized the vital role of kindlin-3 in integrin activation. Kindlin-3 deficiency in humans also has now been documented and includes symptoms of bleeding, frequent infections, and osteopetrosis, which are consequences of an inability to activate β1, β2, and β3 integrins. To date, kindlin-3 was thought to be restricted to hematopoietic cells. In this article, we demonstrate that kindlin-3 is present in human endothelial cells derived from various anatomical origins. The mRNA and protein for KINDLIN-3 was detected in endothelial cells by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blots. When subjected to sequencing by mass spectrometry, the protein was identified as authentic kindlin-3 and unequivocally distinguished from KINDLIN-1 and KINDLIN-2 or any other known protein. By quantitative real time PCR, the level of kindlin-3 in endothelial cells was 20–50% of that of kindlin-2. Using knockdown approaches, we show that kindlin-3 plays a role in integrin-mediated adhesion of endothelial cells. This function depends upon the integrin and substrate and is distinct from that of kindlin-2. Formation of tube-like structures in Matrigel also was impaired by kindlin-3 knockdown. Mechanistically, the distinct functions of the kindlins can be traced to differences in their subcellular localization in integrin-containing adhesion structures. Thus, the prevailing view that individual kindlins exert their functions in a cell type-specific manner must now be modified to consider distinct functions of the different family members within the same cell type.

Integrin αIIbβ3: From Discovery to Efficacious Therapeutic Target

From the initial description of platelets in 1882, their propensity to aggregate and to contribute to thrombosis was apparent. Indeed, excessive platelet aggregation is associated with myocardial infarction and other thrombotic diseases whereas Glanzmann thrombasthenia, in which platelet aggregation is reduced, is a bleeding syndrome. Over the last half of the 20th century, many investigators have provided insights into the cellular and molecular basis for platelet aggregation. The major membrane protein on platelets, integrin &agr;IIb&bgr;3, mediates this response by rapidly transiting from its resting to an activated state in which it serves as a receptor for ligands that can bridge platelets together. Monoclonal antibodies, natural products, and small peptides were all shown to inhibit &agr;IIb&bgr;3 dependent platelet aggregation, and these inhibitors became the forerunners of antagonists that proceeded through preclinical testing and into large patient trials to treat acute coronary syndromes, particularly in the context of percutaneous coronary interventions. Three such &agr;IIb&bgr;3 antagonists, abciximab, eptifibatide, and tirofiban, received Food and Drug Administration approval. Over the past 15 years, millions of patients have been treated with these &agr;IIb&bgr;3 antagonists and many lives have been saved by their administration. With the side effect of increased bleeding and the development of new antithrombotic drugs, the use of &agr;IIb&bgr;3 antagonists is waning. Nevertheless, they are still widely used for the prevention of periprocedural thrombosis during percutaneous coronary interventions. This review focuses on the biology of &agr;IIb&bgr;3, the development of its antagonists, and some of the triumphs and shortcomings of &agr;IIb&bgr;3 antagonism.

Binding of CD40L to Mac-1’s I-domain involves the EQLKKSKTL motif and mediates leukocyte recruitment and atherosclerosis – but does not affect immunity and thrombosis in mice

Rationale: CD40L figures prominently in chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. However, since CD40L potently regulates immune function and hemostasis by interaction with CD40 receptor and the platelet integrin GPIIb/IIIa, its global inhibition compromises host defense and generated thromboembolic complications in clinical trials. We recently reported that CD40L mediates atherogenesis independently of CD40 and proposed Mac-1 as an alternate receptor. Objective: Here, we molecularly characterized the CD40L-Mac-1 interaction and tested whether its selective inhibition by a small peptide modulates inflammation and atherogenesis in vivo. Methods and Results: CD40L concentration-dependently bound to Mac-1 I-domain in solid phase binding assays, and a high-affinity interaction was revealed by surface-plasmon-resonance analysis. We identified the motif EQLKKSKTL, an exposed loop between the &agr;1 helix and the &bgr;-sheet B, on Mac-1 as binding site for CD40L. A linear peptide mimicking this sequence, M7, specifically inhibited the interaction of CD40L and Mac-1. A cyclisized version optimized for in vivo use, cM7, decreased peritoneal inflammation and inflammatory cell recruitment in vivo. Finally, LDLr−/− mice treated with intraperitoneal injections of cM7 developed smaller, less inflamed atherosclerotic lesions featuring characteristics of stability. However, cM7 did not interfere with CD40L-CD40 binding in vitro and CD40L-GPIIb/IIIa-mediated thrombus formation in vivo. Conclusions: We present the novel finding that CD40L binds to the EQLKKSKTL motif on Mac-1 mediating leukocyte recruitment and atherogenesis. Specific inhibition of CD40L-Mac-1 binding may represent an attractive anti-inflammatory treatment strategy for atherosclerosis and other inflammatory conditions, potentially avoiding the unwanted immunologic and thrombotic effects of global inhibition of CD40L.

Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Integrin β3 Regulates Kindlin-2 Binding and Integrin Activation

Kindlins are essential for integrin activation in cell systems and do so by working in a cooperative fashion with talin via their direct interaction with integrin β cytoplasmic tails (CTs). Kindlins interact with the membrane-distal NxxY motif, which is distinct from the talin-binding site within the membrane-proximal NxxY motif. The Tyr residues in both motifs can be phosphorylated, and it has been suggested that this modification of the membrane-proximal NxxY motif negatively regulates interaction with the talin head domain. However, the influence of Tyr phosphorylation of the membrane-distal NxxY motif on kindlin binding is unknown. Using mutational analyses and phosphorylated peptides, we show that phosphorylation of the membrane-distal NITY759 motif in the β3 CT disrupts kindlin-2 recognition. Phosphorylation of this membrane-distal Tyr also disables the ability of kindlin-2 to coactivate the integrin. In direct binding studies, peptides corresponding to the non-phosphorylated β3 CT interacted well with kindlin-2, whereas the Tyr759-phosphorylated peptide failed to bind kindlin-2 with measurable affinity. These observations indicate that transitions between the phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated states of the integrin β3 CT determine reactivity with kindlin-2 and govern the role of kindlin-2 in regulating integrin activation.

Spatial Coordination of Kindlin-2 with Talin Head Domain in Interaction with Integrin β Cytoplasmic Tails

Background: The talin and kindlin play indispensable roles in integrin activation. Results: The C-terminal 12 amino acids of β1 and β3 integrins mediate kindlin-2 binding. Conclusion: Kindlin-2 binding to the extreme C terminus allows β subunits to accommodate both kindlin-2 and talin. Significance: Binding of talin and kindlin-2 to distinct sites in integrins regulates receptor activation, a pivotal event in cellular responses. Both talin head domain and kindlin-2 interact with integrin β cytoplasmic tails, and they function in concert to induce integrin activation. Binding of talin head domain to β cytoplasmic tails has been characterized extensively, but information on the interaction of kindin-2 with this integrin segment is limited. In this study, we systematically examine the interactions of kindlin-2 with integrin β tails. Kindlin-2 interacted well with β1 and β3 tails but poorly with the β2 cytoplasmic tail. This binding selectivity was determined by the non-conserved residues, primarily the three amino acids at the extreme C terminus of the β3 tail, and the sequence in β2 was non-permissive. The region at the C termini of integrin β1 and β3 tails recognized by kindlin-2 was a binding core of 12 amino acids. Kindlin-2 and talin head do not interact with one another but can bind simultaneously to the integrin β3 tail without enhancing or inhibiting the interaction of the other binding partner. Kindlin-2 itself failed to directly unclasp integrin α/β tail complex, indicating that kindlin-2 must cooperate with talin to support the integrin activation mechanism.

Regulation of cell adhesion and migration by Kindlin-3 cleavage by calpain

Background: Kindlin-3 is a novel integrin activator with unclear mechanism. Results: Calpain cleaves Kindlin-3 at Y-373. Cleavage-resistant mutant Y373N Kindlin-3 promotes cell adhesion but hinders migration by altering the pattern of interaction with β integrins. Conclusion: Kindlin-3 cleavage by calpain controls dynamics of integrin complexes. Significance: A novel mechanism regulating kindlin-dependent integrin functions in hematopoietic cells is identified. Integrin activation on hematopoietic cells is essential for platelet aggregation, leukocyte adhesion, and transmigration through endothelium and extracellular matrix into inflamed tissues. To migrate through matrix, leukocyte integrin adhesion complexes undergo dynamic changes. Here we show that Kindlin-3, a main activator and binding partner of integrins in hematopoietic cells, can be cleaved by calpain in an activation-dependent manner. This calpain-mediated cleavage occurs in platelets and leukocytes as well as in endothelial cells. We determined the calpain I cleavage site in Kindlin-3 at tyrosine 373 in the N-terminal part of Kindlin-3 pleckstrin homology domain. Expression of the calpain-resistant Y373N mutant of Kindlin-3 promotes stronger cell adhesion to extracellular matrix under flow as well as to activated endothelium. In contrast, Y373N mutation in Kindlin-3 hinders cell migration. Mechanistically, calpain-resistant Y373N mutant of Kindlin-3 exhibited an activation-independent association with β integrin cytoplasm domain. Thus, cleavage of Kindlin-3 by calpain controls the dynamics of integrin-Kindlin-3 interaction and as a result, integrin-dependent adhesion and migration of hematopoietic cells. This represents a novel mechanism regulating reversibility of integrin adhesion complexes in leukocytes, which, in turn, is critical for their successful transmigration through the extracellular matrix.

Kindlin-2 directly binds actin and regulates integrin outside-in signaling

Bledzka et al. show that kindlin-2 binds actin via its F0 domain, and mutation of this site diminishes cell spreading, revealing a new mechanism by which kindlin-2 regulates cellular responses.

Molecular Basis of Kindlin-2 Binding to Integrin-linked Kinase Pseudokinase for Regulating Cell Adhesion

Background: Mechanism of the kindlin-2/ILK interaction remains elusive. Results: Kindlin-2 specifically recognizes the ILK pseudokinase domain via a leucine-rich amphipathic α-helix, and such binding is crucial for focal adhesion assembly and cell spreading. Conclusion: The leucine-rich helix-mediated kindlin-2/ILK interaction is crucial for integrin outside-in signaling but dispensable for inside-out signaling. Significance: The results provide significant molecular insights into kindlin-2·ILK complex-mediated cell adhesion. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a distinct intracellular adaptor essential for integrin-mediated cell-extracellular matrix adhesion, cell spreading, and migration. Acting as a major docking platform in focal adhesions, ILK engages many proteins to dynamically link integrins with the cytoskeleton, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we have characterized the interaction of ILK with kindlin-2, a key regulator for integrin bidirectional signaling. We show that human kindlin-2 binds to human ILK with high affinity. Using systematic mapping approaches, we have identified a major ILK binding site involving a 20-residue fragment (residues 339–358) in kindlin-2. NMR-based analysis reveals a helical conformation of this fragment that utilizes its leucine-rich surface to recognize the ILK pseudokinase domain in a mode that is distinct from another ILK pseudokinase domain binding protein, α-parvin. Structure-based mutational experiments further demonstrate that the kindlin-2 binding to ILK is crucial for the kindlin-2 localization to focal adhesions and cell spreading (integrin outside-in signaling) but dispensable for the kindlin-2-mediated integrin activation (integrin inside-out signaling). These data define a specific mode of the kindlin-2/ILK interaction with mechanistic implications as to how it spatiotemporally mediates integrin signaling and cell adhesion.

Leukocyte integrin Mac-1 regulates thrombosis via interaction with platelet GPIbα

Inflammation and thrombosis occur together in many diseases. The leukocyte integrin Mac-1 (also known as integrin αMβ2, or CD11b/CD18) is crucial for leukocyte recruitment to the endothelium, and Mac-1 engagement of platelet GPIbα is required for injury responses in diverse disease models. However, the role of Mac-1 in thrombosis is undefined. Here we report that mice with Mac-1 deficiency (Mac-1−/−) or mutation of the Mac-1-binding site for GPIbα have delayed thrombosis after carotid artery and cremaster microvascular injury without affecting parameters of haemostasis. Adoptive wild-type leukocyte transfer rescues the thrombosis defect in Mac-1−/− mice, and Mac-1-dependent regulation of the transcription factor Foxp1 contributes to thrombosis as evidenced by delayed thrombosis in mice with monocyte-/macrophage-specific overexpression of Foxp1. Antibody and small-molecule targeting of Mac-1:GPIbα inhibits thrombosis. Our data identify a new pathway of thrombosis involving leukocyte Mac-1 and platelet GPIbα, and suggest that targeting this interaction has anti-thrombotic therapeutic potential with reduced bleeding risk.

Dual Role of the Leukocyte Integrin αMβ2 in Angiogenesis

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and macrophages are crucial contributors to neovascularization, serving as a source of chemokines, growth factors, and proteases. αMβ2(CD11b/CD18) and αLβ2(CD11a/CD18) are expressed prominently and have been implicated in various responses of these cell types. Thus, we investigated the role of these β2 integrins in angiogenesis. Angiogenesis was analyzed in wild-type (WT), αM-knockout (αM−/−), and αL-deficient (αL−/−) mice using B16F10 melanoma, RM1 prostate cancer, and Matrigel implants. In all models, vascular area was decreased by 50–70% in αM−/− mice, resulting in stunted tumor growth as compared with WT mice. In contrast, αL deficiency did not impair angiogenesis and tumor growth. The neovessels in αM−/− mice were leaky and immature because they lacked smooth muscle cell and pericytes. Defective angiogenesis in the αM−/− mice was associated with attenuated PMN and macrophage recruitment into tumors. In contrast to WT or the αL−/− leukocytes, the αM−/− myeloid cells showed impaired plasmin (Plm)-dependent extracellular matrix invasion, resulting from 50–75% decrease in plasminogen (Plg) binding and pericellular Plm activity. Surface plasmon resonance verified direct interaction of the αMI-domain, the major ligand binding site in the β2 integrins, with Plg. However, the αLI-domain failed to bind Plg. In addition, endothelial cells failed to form tubes in the presence of conditioned medium collected from TNF-α–stimulated PMNs derived from the αM−/− mice because of severely impaired degranulation and secretion of VEGF. Thus, αMβ2 plays a dual role in angiogenesis, supporting not only Plm-dependent recruitment of myeloid cells to angiogenic niches, but also secretion of VEGF by these cells.