Laminin-332 and α3β1 integrin-supported migration of bronchial epithelial cells is modulated by fibronectin

Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2013 Nov;49(5):731-40. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2012-0509OC.

Abstract

The repair of the bronchiolar epithelium damaged by cell-mediated, physical, or chemical insult requires epithelial cell migration over a provisional matrix composed of complexes of extracellular matrix molecules, including fibronectin and laminin. These matrix molecules support migration and enhance cell adhesion. When cells adhere too tightly to their matrix they fail to move; but if they adhere too little, they are unable to develop the traction force necessary for motility. Thus, we investigated the relative contributions of laminin and fibronectin to bronchiolar cell adhesion and migration using the immortalized bronchial lung epithelial cell line (BEP2D) and normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells, both of which assemble a laminin α3β3γ2 (LM332)/fibronectin-rich matrix. Intriguingly, BEP2D and NHBE cells migrate significantly faster on an LM332-rich matrix than on fibronectin. Moreover, addition of fibronectin to LM332 matrix suppresses motility of both cell types. Finally, fibronectin enhances the adhesion of both BEP2D and NHBE cells to LM332-coated surfaces. These results suggest that fibronectin fine tunes LM332-mediated migration by boosting bronchiolar cell adhesion to substrate. We suggest that, during epithelial wound healing of the injured airway, fibronectin plays an important adhesive role for laminin-driven epithelial cell motility by promoting a stable cellular interaction with the provisional matrix.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Bronchi / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Movement*
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Fibronectins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Integrin alpha3beta1 / metabolism*
  • Integrin alpha6 / genetics
  • Integrin alpha6 / metabolism
  • Kalinin
  • RNA Interference
  • Respiratory Mucosa / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Time Factors
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • Transfection
  • Wound Healing

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Fibronectins
  • Integrin alpha3beta1
  • Integrin alpha6