The activity of integrins on leukocytes is kept under tight control to avoid inappropriate adhesion while these cells are circulating in blood or migrating through tissues. Using lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) on T cells as a model, we have investigated adhesion to ligand intercellular adhesion molecule-1 induced by the Ca2+ mobilizers, ionomycin, 2,5-di-t-butylhydroquinone, and thapsigargin, and the well studied stimulators such as phorbol ester and cross-linking of the antigen-specific T cell receptor (TCR)– CD3 complex. We report here that after exposure of T cells to these agonists, integrin is released from cytoskeletal control by the Ca2+-induced activation of a calpain-like enzyme, and adhesive contact between cells is strengthened by means of the clustering of mobilized LFA-1 on the membrane. We propose that methods of leukocyte stimulation that cause Ca2+ fluxes induce LFA-1 adhesion by regulation of calpain activity. These findings suggest a mechanism whereby engagement of the TCR could promote adhesion strengthening at an early stage of interaction with an antigen-presenting cell.

Leukocytes circulate freely in the bloodstream until receiving signals which activate adhesive mechanisms essential for immune responsiveness. Key mediators of these adhesion events are heterodimeric cell surface receptors called integrins. It is now apparent that several components may contribute to successful integrin-mediated adhesion: alterations in individual receptors lead to enhanced affinity for ligand; integrin clustering causes an increase in avidity; by spreading, the adhering cell is less susceptible to shear force. Model systems have allowed us to examine the contribution of each of these factors in generating adhesion. In more physiologically relevant situations, it can now be questioned whether integrin-mediated adhesion is regulated via alterations in receptor affinity or avidity, or whether both these mechanisms are involved.

The adhesive response of circulating leukocytes to inflammatory stimuli is now well documented (1, 2). After such signals, leukocytes adhere to the blood vasculature using selectin-mediated interactions, and this stage leads to activation of their integrins. The β2 or leukocyte integrins lymphocyte function-associated molecule (LFA)-1 (CD11a/CD18) has a major role in the firm adhesion of leukocytes to endothelium and in their migration across this barrier. In addition, LFA-1 cooperates with the T-cell receptor in antigen-stimulated T-cell priming (3) and, in general, participates in the formation of leukocyte-leukocyte contacts. Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) is a major phagocytic receptor operating in association with the third β2 integrin, p150,95 (CD11c/CD18), and both recognize as ligands fibrinogen and the complement fragment iC3b (4, 5).Expression of integrins on the cell membrane is not a guarantee of their ability to function as adhesion receptors. Integrins must undergo conversion from inactive to active ligand-binding status, which occurs through a process of clustering and/or altered conformation (6, 7). The stimulus for this activation is initiated by the triggering of other membrane receptors, a route of signal transduction that has been termed "inside out" signaling. The integrins bind divalent cations such as Mg 2+ or Mn 2+ in order to function, and an alternative means of directly altering integrin activity is through extracellular exposure to these cations. It is thought that these latter procedures mimic the conformational changes brought about by integrin-activating signals generated intracellularly. Special anti-integrin monoclonal antibodies (MABs) can serve as reporters of this activation. For example, MAB 24 recognizes an epitope on high-affinity β2 integrin (7) and detects a conformational change in the form of interdomain movement involving the ligand binding I domain on the integrin α subunit (8).Valuable information about the functioning of the β2 integrins has come from study of the leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD)-1 syndrome. LAD-1 is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutation in the CD18 gene on chromosome 21 that leads to absent or aberrant biosynthesis of the β2 subunit of leukocyte integrins (9-11). This lesion is reflected in the absence or markedly diminished expression on the leukocyte cell surface of the β2 integrins, CD11a/CD18 (LFA-1), CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1), and CD11c/CD18 (p150,95). The patient phenotype is variable but reflects the level of β2 integrins expressed. Patients with <1% expression suffer from life-threatening infections and require bone marrow transplantation for long-term survival (12). In patients with 1%-10% expression, defects in leukocyte mobility, adherence, and endocytosis lead to periodic periodontitis, skin infections, and retarded wound healing with dysplastic scarring. The heterozygotic relatives of the patients have ∼40%-60% normal levels of β2 inte- In the leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD)-1 syndrome, there is diminished expression of β2 (CD18) inte...

Many leukocyte integrins require activation before they can adhere to their ligands. For example, stimulation of T cells enables the integrin LFA-1 to bind to ligand. This study compares two well known protocols for inducing T cell LFA-1 mediated adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM)-1. We how that treatment with high concentrations of the divalent cation Mg2+ induces a high affinity state of LFA-1, which is reflected in the binding of soluble ICAM-1 and correlates with the expression of the epitope recognized by mAb 24. The second stimulation protocol with the phorbol ester phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) does not induce a high affinity state of LFA-1, and in this situation, adhesion is dependent on cell spreading and intracellular events involving protein kinase C, [Ca2+]i, and actin polymerization. These low affinity LFA-1 receptors are responsible for the initial contact with immobilized ligand because, unlike the Mg2+-stimulated receptors, adhesion is not blocked by soluble ICAM-1. Finally, we used a third method of inducing LFA-1-mediated adhesion by stimulation of T cells through the TCR/CD3 complex. This procedure, which is considered to be a more physiologic trigger for LFA-1 activation, resembles the phorbol ester protocol in that high affinity LFA-1 receptors are not induced and cell adhesion depends on involvement of the cytoskeleton and cell spreading.

No abstract