Integrin alpha 2 beta 1 in tumorigenic human osteosarcoma cell lines regulates cell adhesion, migration, and invasion by interaction with type I collagen.

Human osteosarcomas are aggressive bone tumors. Here we propose that their progression requires altered cell interaction with extracellular matrix. Since type I collagen is the main matrix molecule found in bone and thus obligated to interact with tumor cells, we analyzed the expression and function of different integrin-type collagen receptors in tumor cell-collagen interaction by using eight human osteogenic sarcoma (HOS) cell lines. Virally (Kirsten sarcoma virus) transformed derivatives of HOS cells (KHOS-NP) and chemically [N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)] transformed tumorigenic subclones of human osteogenic sarcoma cells (HOS-MNNG) expressed alpha 2 beta 1 integrin in remarkably larger amounts than the six other nontumorigenic cell lines (HOS, MG-63, Saos-2, KHOS-240, KHOS-312, and G292). Concomitantly, Mg(2+)-dependent adhesion of tumorigenic cells to type I collagen was increased. We also show that the migration of tumorigenic cells on and invasion through type I collagen is faster than that of HOS cells. HOS cells forced to express alpha 2 integrin by cDNA transfections showed increased Mg(2+)-dependent cell adhesion to type I collagen and also accelerated migration and invasion rate, indicating that the overexpression of alpha 2 beta 1 integrin in tumorigenic cells alone explains the altered cell-collagen interaction. Finally, HOS cells forced to express alpha 2 integrin subunit did not grow s.c. in athymic mice, suggesting that overexpression of alpha 2 integrin is not efficient to make these cells tumorigenic.

Integrin alpha 2 beta 1 is a positive regulator of collagenase (MMP-1) and collagen alpha 1(I) gene expression.

A classical model for studying the effects of extracellular matrix is to culture cells inside a three-dimensional collagen gel. When surrounded by fibrillar collagen, many cell types decrease the production of type I collagen, and the expression of interstitial collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase-1; MMP-1) is simultaneously induced. To study the role of the collagen-binding integrins alpha 1 beta 1 and alpha 2 beta 1 in this process, we used three different osteogenic cell lines with distinct patterns of putative collagen receptors: HOS cells, which express only alpha 1 beta 1 integrin, MG-63 cells, which express only alpha 2 beta 1 integrin, and KHOS-240 cells, which express both. Inside collagen gels, alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA levels were decreased in HOS and KHOS-240 cells but not in MG-63 cells. In contrast, MMP-1 expression was induced in KHOS-240 and MG-63 cells but not in HOS cells. Transfection of MG-63 cells with alpha 2 integrin cDNA in an antisense orientation reduced the expression level of alpha 2 integrin. These cell clones showed induction and reduction of mRNA levels for MMP-1, respectively. HOS cells normally lacking alpha 2 beta 1 integrin were forced to express it, and this prevented the down-regulation in the levels of alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA when cells were grown inside collagen gels. The data indicate that the level of MMP-1 expression is regulated by the collagen receptor alpha 2 beta 1 integrin. The down-regulation of collagen alpha 1 (I) is mediated by another receptor. Integrin alpha 2 beta 1 may compete with it and thus be a positive regulator of collagen synthesis.

Antibody against human alpha 1 beta 1 integrin inhibits HeLa cell adhesion to laminin and to type I, IV, and V collagens.

In HeLa cells beta 1 integrin forms heterodimers with alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 5 and alpha 6 integrin subunits. Integrin alpha v beta 5 can also be detected. A monoclonal antibody SR-84 identified the alpha 1 integrin subunit in immunoprecipitation assays and inhibited alpha 1-related cell adhesion to different matrix proteins, laminin-1 and type I, IV, and V collagens, whereas its effect on adhesion to type II collagen was marginal. HeLa cells do not attach to type VI collagen. The presence of magnesium was essential for HeLa cell adhesion, whereas calcium alone was not sufficient and high concentrations of calcium even counteracted the effect of magnesium. Cell adhesion to type I collagen was sensitive to changes in pH, unlike cell adhesion to type IV collagen. We conclude that SR-84 is a valuable tool to study alpha 1 integrin-related functions, and that in HeLa cells alpha 1 beta 1 integrin is a magnesium-dependent receptor for type I, IV, and V collagens but not for type II and VI collagens.

Transforming growth factor-beta regulates collagen gel contraction by increasing alpha 2 beta 1 integrin expression in osteogenic cells.

The contraction of floating collagen gels is suggested to mimic the reorganization of collagenous matrix during development and tissue healing. Here, we have studied two osteogenic cell lines, namely MG-63 and HOS, and a chemically transformed subclone of HOS cells, HOS-MNNG. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a putative regulator of bone fracture healing, increased collagen gel contraction by MG-63 and HOS-MNNG, but not by HOS cells. Our data show that TGF-beta-induced fibronectin synthesis is not sufficient for the process. Instead, anti-beta 1 integrin antibodies could prevent the contraction. There are three different integrin heterodimers that are known to mediate the cell-collagen interaction, namely alpha 1 beta 1, alpha 2 beta 1, and alpha 3 beta 1. In MG-63 cells TGF-beta increased the expression of alpha 2 beta 1 integrin and decreased the expression of alpha 3 beta 1 integrin, whereas alpha 1 beta 1 integrin is not expressed. HOS cells had no alpha 2 beta 1 integrin, neither did TGF-beta induce its expression. However, HOS-MNNG cells expressed more alpha 2 beta 1 integrin when treated with TGF-beta. Thus, we suggest that the mechanism of the enhanced collagen gel contraction by TGF-beta is the increased expression of alpha 2 beta 1 integrin heterodimer. To further test this hypothesis, we expressed a full-length alpha 2 integrin cDNA in HOS cells and in MG-63 cells. We obtained HOS cell clones that expressed alpha 2 beta 1 heterodimer, and the ability of these cells to contract collagen gels was greatly enhanced. Furthermore, the contraction by MG-63 cells transfected with alpha 2 integrin cDNA was enhanced, and the contraction by cells transfected with antisense oriented alpha 2 integrin cDNA was decreased. Thus, both in MG-63 and HOS cells the increased alpha 2 integrin expression alone was sufficient for the enhanced contraction of collagen gels. Furthermore, the amount of alpha 2 integrin is critical for the process, and its decrease leads to diminished ability to contract gels.

Entry of coxsackievirus A9 into host cells: specific interactions with alpha v beta 3 integrin, the vitronectin receptor.

Attachment and entry of coxsackievirus A9 (CAV-9) to GMK cells were previously shown to be dependent on an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif in the capsid protein VP1, suggesting integrins as candidate receptors for the virus. We have pursued the matter further and show that antibodies specific for the alpha v and/or beta 3 integrin subunits protect GMK cells from CAV-9 infection. Affinity purification of radioiodinated cell surface proteins using CAV-9 or virus-specific peptide (RRRGDL) columns confirmed that the alpha v beta 3 heterodimer, known as the vitronectin receptor, is recognized by the virus in GMK cells. Other proteins, of lower molecular weight (less than 40 kDa), were also bound to and specifically eluted from the columns, but their possible role in attachment and entry of CAV-9 remains to be elucidated by further studies. Of several other related viruses studied, only echovirus 22, which also has an RGD motif in the VP1 capsid protein, was found to compete for cell surface binding with CAV-9.

Suppressed collagen gene expression and induction of alpha 2 beta 1 integrin-type collagen receptor in tumorigenic derivatives of human osteogenic sarcoma (HOS) cell line.

Cell-matrix interactions and intergrin-type cell adhesion receptors are involved in the regulation of tumor cell invasion and metastasis. We have analyzed the expression of matrix proteins and their cellular receptors in human osteosarcoma cells (HOS) and in their virally (KHOS-NP) and chemically (HOS-MNNG) transformed tumorigenic subclones. Transformation decreased dramatically the cellular mRNA levels of alpha 1(I) collagen. Concomitantly with down-regulation of collagen mRNA levels the synthesis of the collagen receptor, alpha 2 beta 1 integrin, was induced. No alpha 2 integrin mRNA was found in HOS cells, suggesting that its expression was regulated most probably at the transcriptional level. 5-Azacytidine alone or combined with alpha 2 integrin-stimulating cytokines, transforming growth factor-beta 1, and interleukin-1 beta, did not turn on the alpha 2 integrin gene. In chemically transformed cells, however, alpha 2 integrin expression could be regulated by cytokines. Thus, we suggest that HOS cells have a strong element, probably other than cell culture-generated de novo promoter methylation, suppressing alpha 2 integrin expression and that this factor is lost in both chemical and viral transformation. Furthermore, the mechanism used by cytokines and malignant transformation to increase alpha 2 integrin expression seems not to be identical. Other transformation-related changes in beta 1 integrins were (i) reduction of the intracellular pool of precursor beta 1 (in HOS-MNNG cells), leading to faster maturation rate of beta 1 subunit and slower maturation rate of alpha subunits, and (ii) decreased electrophoretic mobility of both alpha and beta 1 subunits. At the cellular level both chemical and viral transformation increased cell adhesion to type I collagen.