Extracellular matrix proteins and leukocyte function

Abstract

Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins profoundly affect physiological functioning at the cellular level. Cell growth and differentiation, as well as cell shape and migration via the cytoskeleton, are all affected by ECM proteins. Leukocyte interactions with matrices have recently become an exciting field of research because a number of different leukocyte functions are significantly affected by their binding to ECM proteins. This may be especially important in inflammatory responses where leukocytes are primed for inflammatory mediator and cytokine production by binding to ECM proteins during extravasation. Because activated leukocytes produce potentially damaging substances, the progress of an inflammatory response can be profoundly affected by the ECM proteins encountered by leukocytes during their migration from within the peripheral circulation to sites of inflammation. This review summarizes recent publications describing components of the ECM that influence leukocyte function, the receptors involved in leukocyte binding to ECM proteins, and focuses on the effects of ECM proteins on the production of inflammatory mediators and cytokines by human peripheral blood leukocytes.

P-selectin and MAC-1 mediate monocyte rolling and adhesion to ECM-bound platelets under flow conditions

“…Peripheral blood monocytes express a wide variety of adhesion molecules that enable them to adhere to endothelial cells and extracellular matrix proteins [3,4]. Monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells is a multi-step process brought about by different adhesion molecules.…”

“…After vascular injury extracellular matrix (ECM) is exposed to flowing blood. Adhesion and subsequent functional modulation of neutrophils and monocytes on matrix proteins is only studied in static adhesion assays [3,13,14]. This process under flow conditions remains to be identified.…”

Human Blood Monocytes Interact with Type I Collagen Through αxβ2 Integrin (CD11c-CD18, gp150-95)

“…I nitial events of inflammation or wound healing involve a variety of cell types, including peripheral blood cells that are attracted to the inflamed areas by chemotactic stimuli, such as cytokines or degradation products of extracellular matrix (ECM) 3 proteins (1,2). During these processes, circulating cells adhere to the walls of blood vessels and migrate through the basement membrane to invade localized areas of surrounding tissues.…”

Modulation of neutrophil adherence to endothelial cells by platelet-derived adherence-inhibiting factor through interactions with selectin molecules

“…Several investigators have reported the molecular mechanisms that mediate neutrophil adherence to endothelial cells (EC) and basement membrane [2,3]. For example, the selectin family of adhesion molecules such as L-selectin mediates the initial adherence of neutrophils to EC, which allows neutrophils to roll along the vessel wall [4].…”