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J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 280, Issue 19, 18871-18880, May 13, 2005
Fibronectin Regulates Latent Transforming Growth Factor-
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| ABSTRACT |
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-binding proteins (LTBPs) are extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoproteins that play a major role in the storage of latent TGF
in the ECM and regulate its availability. Here we show that fibronectin is critical for the incorporation of LTBP1 and transforming growth factor-
(TGF
) into the ECM of osteoblasts and fibroblasts. Immunolocalization studies suggested that fibronectin provides an initial scaffold that precedes and patterns LTBP1 deposition but that LTBP1 and fibronectin are later localized in separate fibrillar networks, suggesting that the initial template is lost. Treatment of fetal rat calvarial osteoblasts with a 70-kDa N-terminal fibronectin fragment that inhibits fibronectin assembly impaired incorporation of LTBP1 and TGF
into the ECM. Consistent with this, LTBP1 failed to assemble in embryonic fibroblasts that lack the gene for fibronectin. LTBP1 assembly was rescued by full-length fibronectin and superfibronectin, which are capable of assembly into fibronectin fibrils, but not by other fibronectin fragments, including a 160-kDa RGD-containing fragment that activates
5
1 integrins. This suggests that the critical event for LTBP1 assembly is the formation of a fibronectin fibrillar network and that integrin ligation by fibronectin molecules alone is not sufficient. Not only was fibronectin essential for the initial incorporation of LTBP1 into the ECM, but the continued presence of fibronectin was required for the continued assembly of LTBP1. These studies highlight a nonredundant role for fibronectin in LTBP1 assembly into the ECM and suggest a novel role for fibronectin in regulation of TGF
via LTBP1 interactions. | INTRODUCTION |
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-binding proteins (LTBPs) are members of a family of ECM proteins that are key regulators of transforming growth factor-
s (TGF
s) (24). LTBP1, the prototype member of this family, regulates TGF
at multiple levels. First, LTBP1 associates with latent TGF
inside the cell and facilitates secretion of the latent complex (5). LTBP1 then targets latent TGF
to the ECM for storage (6, 7). LTBP1 may also provide a vehicle for release of the latent growth factor, following proteolytic cleavage of LTBP1 and release of C-terminal LTBP1 fragments, still bound to the latent TGF
(79). Finally, there is also evidence that LTBP1 plays a role in activation of the latent TGF
complex (10, 11).
LTBPs are members of a larger superfamily of matrix proteins that include fibrillins 1 and 2, the recently reported fibrillin 3 (12), and the latent TGF
-binding proteins 14 (reviewed in Refs. 2, 3, 13, and 14). At least three of the LTBPs (LTBPs 1, 3, and 4) can form complexes with latent TGF
1, whereas LTBP2 appears not to bind to latent TGF
(15). LTBP1 is also secreted by many cell types in a free form that is not bound to TGF
. The percentage of free LTBP1 varies from 10 to 90%, depending on the cell type and the differentiation stage examined (6, 9, 16). These observations raise the possibility that LTBP1 may also have important functions that are independent of TGF
and may be related to its properties as an ECM protein.
At present, little is known about how LTBPs function as matrix proteins. Like the fibrillins, their primary structure consists predominantly of 6 cysteine (epidermal growth factor-like) repeats similar to the motifs found in the epidermal growth factor precursor and 8 cysteine repeats (termed "TB repeats") unique to the LTBPs and fibrillins. Recent studies have demonstrated that the third TB repeats in LTBPs 1, 3, and 4 are the sites for covalent binding of latent TGF
(15, 17).
Immunolocalization studies have shown that LTBP1 co-localizes with fibrillin-1 in 10-nm microfibrils in the ECM of osteoblasts (18). LTBP1 has also been shown to co-localize with fibronectin (1820), and a binding interaction between LTBP1 and fibronectin has been suggested by ligand blotting studies (19). Fibronectin is required for the assembly of several ECM proteins, including type I collagen (21), fibulin I (22), thrombospondin (23), and fibrinogen (24). We therefore hypothesized that fibronectin may play a critical role in LTBP1 assembly into the ECM and may thereby play a role in regulation of TGF
. Multiple approaches were used to disrupt fibronectin assembly, and the effect on LTBP1 and TGF
incorporation was determined. These studies highlight a novel role for fibronectin in the regulation of TGF
via LTBP1 interactions.
| MATERIALS AND METHODS |
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AntibodiesAntibodies against LTBP1 included a rabbit polyclonal antibody (Ab39; kindly supplied by K. Miyazono, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo) (18, 29). A rabbit polyclonal antibody against a peptide in rat LTBP1 was also used, which recognizes mouse and rat but not human LTBP1 (18). Fibronectin antibodies included a mouse monoclonal antibody (IgM) against cellular fibronectin (Sigma), a mouse monoclonal antibody (IgG) against the human fibronectin ED-A domain (Harlan), a mouse monoclonal antibody IgG (39B6) directed against type II repeats 1214 of human fibronectin (30), and a rabbit polyclonal antibody against fibronectin purified from human platelets (Neomarkers, Freemont, CA).
A peroxidase-conjugated donkey anti-rabbit antibody (Amersham Biosciences) was used for Western blotting and ELISA. All secondary antibodies for immunofluorescent staining were purchased from Jackson ImmunoResearch (West Grove, PA). Various combinations of fluorochrome-conjugated secondary antibodies were used as appropriate for each combination of primary antibodies, as stated in the figure legends. In some experiments, biotinylated secondary antibodies were used in conjunction with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated streptavidin (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA).
Cell CultureTissue culture reagents were purchased from Invitrogen. Primary fetal rat calvarial (FRC) osteoblasts were prepared as described previously (7, 18). UMR-106 cells were a gift from T. J. Martin (St. Vincent Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia) and were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 2 mM L-glutamine, 100 units/ml penicillin/streptomycin, and 10% fetal bovine serum.
FN-null (FN/) and heterozygous (FN+/) embryonic fibroblasts were derived as described elsewhere (31). For experiments examining LTBP1 assembly in FN-null fibroblasts, the cells were cultured in the presence of FN-stripped serum with or without the addition of 10 µg/ml plasma fibronectin. For growth curve experiments, cells were plated in 96-well plates at 20,000 cells/cm2. Cells were trypsinized at the specified time points, and cell number was determined by using a Coulter counter (Beckman Coulter Inc.).
ImmunocytochemistryFor immunocytochemistry, cells were plated in Lab-Tek chamber slides at 20,000 cells/cm2 in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% FN-stripped fetal bovine serum, 2 mM L-glutamine, and 100 units/ml penicillin/streptomycin with or without 10 µg/ml plasma fibronectin. At confluence, the media were changed to Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 5% FN-stripped fetal bovine serum, 50 µg/ml ascorbic acid, and other additives as above, with or without the addition of fibronectin or fibronectin fragments. The cells were cultured for the specified periods, with media changed every 3 days. Co-localization of LTBP1, fibronectin, and type I collagen was performed using double staining indirect immunofluorescence techniques as described previously (18). The specimens were viewed and photographed digitally using a Leica DMRXA microscope with epifluorescence illumination and a Photometric Cool-snap FX CCD camera. For double labeling experiments, multiple controls were performed, including using nonimmune serum or control IgG in place of primary antibody, testing each primary antibody individually using both secondary antibodies to exclude cross-species reactivity of the secondary antibodies, and preincubating the primary antibody with the immunizing peptide (where available).
TGF
ELISA and Modified ELISA for Detection of Relative Amounts of LTBP1A commercial ELISA (TGF
1 Emax; Promega Corp., Madison, WI) was used for measurement of TGF
1 in conditioned media samples collected over 48 h or in guanidine HCl extracts of the ECM, prepared as described elsewhere (32). Values were normalized to cell number. For measurement of total (active + latent) TGF
, the samples were acidified using HCl and then reneutralized prior to measurement using NaOH according to the ELISA manufacturer's instructions.
To quantify the relative amounts of LTBP1 in the ECM, a modified ELISA was used. Cells were grown in 96-well plates in media with or without fibronectin. The plates were fixed in 95% ethanol, then blocked with 5% bovine serum albumin + 1% milk, followed by incubation in primary antibodies against LTBP1. After washing, the amount of bound LTBP1 antibody was determined using the Vectorstain-Elite ABC immunodetection kit (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA) in conjunction with O-phenylenediamine as a reaction substrate. Alternatively, the vector VIP substrate kit was used, followed by solubilization of the reaction product by incubating for 10 min at room temperature in 50 µl of 2 M KCl, then adding 50 µl of Me2SO and incubating for a further 10 min. The plates were read on an ELX 800 plate reader (Bio-Tek Instruments, Winooski, VT) at 450 nm, and background subtraction was performed using a blank control that had been incubated with nonspecific IgG in place of primary antibody. Values were normalized to total protein content of the cell lysate or to cell number as determined using a Coulter counter.
Immunoelectron MicroscopyFor immunoelectron microscopy, FN-null and heterozygous fibroblasts were cultured on Thermanox coverslips (Nalge Nunc International) in media with or without added fibronectin as described above. Media were changed every 3 days, and coverslips were harvested on days 6, 14, and 21. Immunogold staining was performed on unfixed specimens as described previously (18) using anti-LTBP1 and anti-fibronectin antibodies each diluted 1:10. For detection, a donkey anti-rabbit secondary antibody-6-nm gold conjugate and a donkey anti-mouse secondary antibody-18-nm gold conjugate were used (Jackson ImmunoResearch). The samples were fixed after immunogold staining and processed for transmission electron microscopy as described previously (18). They were then embedded in Taab epoxy resin (Taab Laboratories Equipment Ltd., Aldermaston, UK). After polymerization, the coverslips were removed to leave the cell layer exposed on the outer surface of the block. Ultrathin sections were cut at a slight angle to the growth substrate by using a diamond knife. Sections were examined with or without contrast in a Philips EM 301 transmission electron microscope at an accelerating voltage of 60 kV.
LTBP1 Stably Expressing Cell LinesTo generate UMR-106 cell lines stably overexpressing LTBP1, a full-length human LTBP1 construct in the PSV7d vector (kindly provided by K. Miyazono, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo) was co-transfected at a 10:1 ratio with an RSVneo selection vector, using calcium phosphate precipitation as described elsewhere (33). The transfected cells were selected with 400 µg/ml G418, and resistant single cell clones were screened for LTBP1 expression using an ELISA, as described previously (7). Three high expressing clones (0.21.5 µg/ml) were selected for further study. Control clones transfected with RSVneo alone were used for comparison.
FPLC AnalysisFPLC fractionation was performed as described previously (16) using 48-h serum-free, phenol red-free conditioned media harvested from 9095% confluent cultures. 150 ml of conditioned medium was concentrated 10-fold over a 50-kDa cut-off membrane using a minisette concentrator (Millipore, Bedford, MA). The samples were then lyophilized, reconstituted, and dialyzed against 20 mM Tris buffer, pH 7.2, prior to application over an analytical Mono-Q anion exchange column (Amersham Biosciences). The column was eluted with a linear gradient of 00.5 M NaCl, 20 mM Tris buffer. Fractions were tested for TGF
activity using the alkaline phosphatase microassay as described previously (16).
Metabolic Labeling and ImmunoprecipitationFor metabolic labeling and immunoprecipitation, cells were plated into 12-well multiwell plates at 10,000 cells/cm2 growth area. At 90% confluence, the cells were metabolically labeled as described previously (8) by using 100 µCi/well [35S]cysteine for 6 h. LTBP1 was measured in the culture supernatants as well as the ECM by immunoprecipitation followed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography as described previously (8, 16). A plasmin digestion was used to release the ECM-bound LTBP1 (7, 19).
Western BlottingProteins in concentrated conditioned media samples or plasmin matrix digests were separated by SDS-PAGE using 420% gradient polyacrylamide mini gels, and immunoblotting was performed as described previously (7). The immunostained bands were visualized using the Renaissance ECL detection system according to manufacturer`s instructions (PerkinElmer Life Sciences). Samples were normalized to total protein content or to cell number prior to loading on the gels.
| RESULTS |
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1 Incorporation by a 70-kDa N-terminal Fibronectin FragmentTo determine whether fibronectin was required for assembly of LTBP1 into bone ECM, fetal rat calvarial cell cultures were treated for 6 days with a 70-kDa N-terminal fibronectin fragment (Fig. 3a). This fragment blocks assembly of both endogenous and exogenous fibronectin in fibroblasts by occupying binding sites that are required for fibronectin self-association (28). Treatment with 70 µg/ml of the fibronectin fragment (Fig. 3a, 70K) resulted in a dramatic reduction in fibronectin incorporation compared with untreated controls (control) or control cultures treated with plasma fibronectin (pFN). This was paralleled by a reduction in LTBP1 incorporation into the ECM. Dose-response experiments showed a significant reduction in LTBP1 incorporation at doses between 10 and 70 µg/ml, as determined by immunofluorescence (data not shown) and also by quantitation of the relative amounts of incorporated LTBP1 using a modified ELISA (Fig. 3b).
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TGF
1 is the major TGF
isoform produced in bone (7, 34). To determine whether inhibition of fibronectin assembly also affected incorporation of TGF
into the ECM, the amount of TGF
1 in the ECM was measured using a commercial ELISA (Fig. 3c). Treatment of fetal rat calvarial cells with the 70-kDa fibronectin fragment reduced the amount of latent TGF
1 stored in the ECM by 80%. This was not because of reduced synthesis and secretion of TGF
as increased amounts of latent TGF
were detected in the conditioned media of the treated cultures (Fig. 3c).
LTBP1 Assembly in Fibronectin-null Embryonic FibroblastsTo define further the role of fibronectin in the assembly of LTBP1 into the ECM, we examined LTBP1 assembly in fibroblasts differentiated from mouse embryonic stem cells that were null for the fibronectin gene (FN-null) (Fig. 4). Both heterozygous (+/) and FN-null (/) embryonic fibroblasts synthesized and secreted LTBP1 in amounts that were grossly equivalent to the amounts produced by fetal rat calvarial cells.2 Fig. 4a shows double-stained immunolocalization of LTBP1 and fibronectin in the ECM of 6-day cultures of FN-null fibroblasts (/), as compared with heterozygous controls (+/). The cells were cultured in fibronectin-stripped serum to ensure that no exogenous fibronectin was present. In control cells, a network of fibronectin fibrils was present in the ECM, and LTBP1 was found to co-distribute with this network. In contrast, no fibronectin was detected in the ECM of FN-null cells, and this was associated with a failure in LTBP1 incorporation. Western analysis (Fig. 4b) indicated that this effect was not because of reduced expression of LTBP1 in the FN-null cells, as they secreted a large amount of LTBP1 into the conditioned media (Fig. 4b, black arrow) but failed to incorporate it into the ECM (Fig. 4b, gray arrow). In contrast, the heterozygous cells had lower amounts of LTBP1 in the conditioned media, with the major proportion in the ECM.
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Time course studies demonstrated a virtual absence of LTBP1 incorporation into the ECM of FN-null cells between days 3 and 6 of culture (Fig. 5a). However, with longer times in culture (1421 days), a few sparse LTBP1-positive fibrils were formed, which occurred in areas where the cells were multilayered. At no time was any fibronectin detected in the ECM. Identical results were obtained using two independent LTBP1 antibodies (data not shown).
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Rescue of LTBP1 Incorporation by Addition of Exogenous Fibronectin and Fibronectin FragmentsPrevious studies (23, 31) have shown that an exogenous source of fibronectin can restore the ability of FN-null cells to assemble fibronectin. We therefore determined whether addition of plasma fibronectin could rescue incorporation of LTBP1 into the ECM of FN-null cells (Fig. 6a). Treatment with 10 µg/ml plasma fibronectin (Fig. 6a, / + FN) rescued incorporation of LTBP1 into the ECM of FN-null cells. When the cultures were double-stained using an antibody against the fibronectin ED-A domain, which only recognizes the endogenous cellular form of fibronectin, no fibronectin staining was seen in the FN-null cells, confirming that they did not produce any endogenous fibronectin (Fig. 6a). However, when an antibody against fibronectin type III repeats 1214 was used, which recognizes the exogenously added human plasma fibronectin, it was clear that the added fibronectin was assembled into the ECM of the rescued FN-null cells and that LTBP1 co-distributed with the added fibronectin (Fig. 6b). Time course studies showed that the rescue effect was evident as early as 3 days and that the FN-null cells went on to produce a well organized parallel fibrillar LTBP1 network by 21 days (data not shown).
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In addition to reduced incorporation of LTBP1 and type I collagen, we also found that fibrillin-1 assembly was impaired in FN-null fibroblasts.2 Because LTBP1 and fibrillin-1 both appear to be dependent on fibronectin for assembly into the ECM and because we have previously reported that LTBP1 and fibrillin-1 co-localize in 10-nm microfibrils, we next examined whether fibrillin-1 was required for incorporation of LTBP1 into the ECM in association with fibronectin. LTBP1 was stably transfected into UMR-106 rat osteosarcoma cells, which do not produce endogenous LTBP1 or fibrillin-1. We have shown previously (16) that these cells produce exclusively the 100-kDa small latent TGF
complex that lacks LTBP1. However, these cells do produce an organized fibronectin matrix, making them a useful host cell for LTBP1 overexpression to examine its association with fibronectin in the absence of fibrillin-1.
Several stable single cell clones were obtained, which expressed LTBP1 in the range 0.21.5 µg/ml, as determined by ELISA. FPLC analysis was used to examine the forms of latent TGF
produced by the transfected UMR-106 cell lines (Fig. 10a). In empty vector-transfected cells, a single peak of TGF
activity was observed, eluting at 0.2 M NaCl (Fig. 10a, gray bars), consistent with the known elution position of the 100-kDa small latent TGF
complex (16, 35). LTBP1 was undetectable by ELISA in empty vector-transfected cells (Fig. 10a, solid lines). Transfection of UMR-106 cells with LTBP1 altered the elution profile so that
30% of the latent TGF
activity eluted at a later position (0.3 M NaCl), corresponding to the known elution position of the 290-kDa large latent TGF
complex, containing LTBP1 (16, 35). Consistent with this, the LTBP1 peak, as measured by ELISA, overlapped with the large latent TGF
complex peak. The LTBP1 peak also extended beyond the TGF
peak, which presumably represents free, uncomplexed LTBP1. Fig. 10b shows immunoprecipitation analysis on two LTBP1-overexpressing UMR-106 clones. As expected, LTBP1 was undetectable in empty vector-transfected cells in either the media or matrix. In contrast, when LTBP1 was overexpressed in UMR-106 cells, bands were observed in the conditioned medium and in plasmin digests of the ECM at the expected size for free LTBP1 (Fig. 10b, black arrowhead) and LTBP1 complexed to TGF
(Fig. 10b, white arrowhead), suggesting that the overexpressed protein was incorporated into the ECM. Double-stained immunofluorescence confirmed that LTBP1 was undetectable in the ECM of empty vector-transfected cells (Fig. 10c). In contrast, in LTBP1-overexpressing cells, abundant LTBP1 staining was observed in the matrix, which co-localized with fibronectin. No fibrillin-1 immunostaining was detected in either control or LTBP1-transfected cells. Identical results were obtained with three independent LTBP1-overexpressing clones. Thus, in the absence of fibrillin-1, LTBP1 still co-localized with fibronectin.
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| DISCUSSION |
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incorporation into the ECM of osteoblasts and fibroblasts. Immunolocalization studies showed that fibronectin is assembled into the ECM prior to LTBP1 and that LTBP1 is then deposited onto and co-localizes with fibronectin. However, in long term cultures of both primary osteoblasts and fibroblasts, fibronectin and LTBP1 are localized in separate fibrillar networks. These data suggest that fibronectin provides an initial template for deposition of LTBP1 (i.e. formation of a fibronectin matrix precedes and patterns LTBP1 deposition) but that this template only acts as a temporary scaffold (i.e. the initial fibronectin template is lost).
Consistent with a critical role for fibronectin in LTBP1 assembly, disruption of fibronectin fibrillogenesis using a 70-kDa N-terminal fibronectin fragment impaired incorporation of LTBP1 and latent TGF
1 into the ECM. Furthermore, embryonic fibroblasts that lacked the fibronectin gene failed to incorporate LTBP1 into the ECM even though they secreted a large amount of LTBP1 into the culture medium. Addition of exogenous fibronectin was able to completely rescue fibrillar assembly of fibronectin and to rescue LTBP1 incorporation into the ECM as well as its co-localization with fibronectin. Together, these data suggest a crucial non-redundant role for fibronectin in the assembly of LTBP1 into the ECM. The lack of LTBP1 assembly in the absence of fibronectin suggests that LTBP1 does not use the same integrin receptor system as fibronectin (i.e.
5
1 or
4
1) directly for its assembly, since these integrins are expressed in the FN-null cells (31) and their presence is not sufficient for LTBP1 assembly in the absence of fibronectin. The assembly of LTBP1 therefore appears to be fundamentally different from that of fibronectin.
Although LTBP1 assembly was virtually absent in 16-day cultures of FN-null fibroblasts, with extended culture times (1421 days) a small amount of LTBP1 incorporation was observed, which was localized in areas where the cells were multilayered and had the appearance of short, disorganized fibrils. One possibility is that this small amount of LTBP1 incorporation may be due to low levels of residual fibronectin remaining in the stripped fetal calf serum used for culturing. However, by using two independent antibodies that recognize plasma fibronectin, we have not detected any incorporation of plasma fibronectin into the ECM of these cells by immunofluorescence. This suggests that a very limited amount of LTBP1 assembly can occur via an alternative pathway that does not require fibronectin.
In rescue experiments using a panel of fibronectin fragments, only fragments that were capable of assembly into fibronectin fibrils were able to rescue LTBP1 incorporation in FN-null cells. This suggests either that the critical event for LTBP1 assembly is the formation of a fibrillar fibronectin network and/or that multiple interacting sites on the fibronectin molecule are required for LTBP1 incorporation and that the individual fragments tested were lacking one or more of these sites. Future studies will therefore require the use of fibronectin constructs that contain all the necessary domains for assembly into fibrils but contain deletions in other internal domains (36). The ability of the 70-kDa fibronectin fragment to inhibit incorporation of LTBP1 in primary osteoblasts favors the hypothesis that fibronectin fibril assembly is the critical event, since this fragment works by blocking fibronectin self-interacting domains but does not inhibit binding of fibronectin to cell surface integrins. Furthermore, the 160-kDa fibronectin fragment that contains the RGD sequence and is known to stimulate integrin-mediated signaling was unable to rescue LTBP1 incorporation in FN-null cells, suggesting that integrin ligation alone is not the critical event for LTBP1 assembly.
Similar to LTBP1, we have observed a time-dependent co-localization between fibrillin-1 and fibronectin, with initial deposition in association with fibronectin, followed by localization in separate fibrillar networks.2 We have also found that fibrillin-1 assembly was disrupted by inhibition of fibronectin assembly. However, fibrillin-1 showed a somewhat greater capacity for assembly in the absence of fibronectin compared with LTBP1. Together, these data show that fibronectin is a critical regulator of assembly for at least two members of the fibrillin superfamily and that these microfibrillar proteins may have a limited capacity for self-assembly in living cell systems in the absence of fibronectin.
A number of studies have shown that fibronectin acts as an orchestrator for the assembly of other ECM proteins. For example, assembly of type I and III collagen is impaired in FN-null fibroblasts (21, 23). Although collagens are clearly capable of self-assembly in various cell-free systems, these studies suggest that additional levels of control may be exerted in living cell systems. In addition to reduced LTBP1 and fibrillin-1 incorporation, we also observed that assembly of type I collagen was compromised in FN-null cells.2 However, the fact that LTBP1 assembly could be rescued in FN-null cells in the absence of ascorbic acid (i.e. in the absence of fibrillar collagen) suggests that the impairment of LTBP1 incorporation was not a secondary consequence of reduced collagen assembly.
At present, the mechanism by which fibronectin and LTBP1 interact is unclear. Solid phase binding assays performed in our laboratory by using purified LTBP1 and fibronectin fragments suggest that there is no direct binding interaction between LTBP1 and fibronectin and that the binding is indirect.3 Although Taipale et al. (6) reported a binding interaction between LTBP1 and fibronectin by ligand blotting, these studies were performed with conditioned media rather than purified LTBP1 and are therefore consistent with an indirect binding mechanism. Because it has been reported that LTBP1 can interact directly with fibrillin-1 (37) and because fibrillin-1 co-localizes with fibronectin in a manner similar to LTBP1, we examined whether fibrillin-1 may mediate LTBP1 binding to fibronectin. By overexpressing LTBP1 in UMR-106 cells that lack endogenous LTBP1 or fibrillin-1, we showed that fibrillin-1 was not required for LTBP1 incorporation in association with fibronectin. Our current data suggest that heparan sulfate proteoglycans may be responsible.3
In primary osteoblasts, human fibroblasts, and osteoblastic cell lines, we have consistently observed that LTBP1 initially co-localizes with fibronectin but later is localized in a separate fibrillar network. In accordance with this, we have also reported that LTBP1 and fibronectin show a partial overlap in distribution in periosteal osteoblasts in vivo (18). At present, the mechanism for the change in co-distribution patterns is unknown. One possibility is that LTBP1 is laid down in association with fibronectin as part of an initial phase of ECM assembly designed to rapidly assemble a supportive "temporary ECM." However, this ECM is later remodeled to produce a more highly organized ECM containing specific fibrillar structures. This could be achieved either by breakdown and reassembly of the original ECM or by an active cell-mediated reorganization of the original ECM. Recent studies (23) have shown that the continual assembly of fibronectin into the ECM is required to maintain stability of ECM components, such as type I collagen and thrombospondin, suggesting that the ECM is a highly dynamic structure, which may be constantly undergoing remodeling.
Consistent with the results of Sottile and Hocking (23), we have observed that in FN-null cells that were first rescued with fibronectin supplementation followed by withdrawal of fibronectin, there is a loss of fibronectin from the ECM. This suggests that the continual presence of fibronectin is required to maintain stability of the fibronectin fibrillar network. Although the LTBP1 fibrillar network appeared to be more stable and was not degraded upon withdrawal of fibronectin, withdrawal of fibronectin halted further LTBP1 assembly so that cultures treated with fibronectin on days 13 followed by fibronectin withdrawal for days 46 resembled cultures that had been fixed on day 3. In contrast, cultures in which fibronectin treatment was continued for days 46 continued to assemble more LTBP1 into the ECM. These data suggest that not only is fibronectin required for the initial assembly of LTBP1 into the ECM but that the continual presence of fibronectin is essential for LTBP1 assembly to continue.
LTBP1 is a multifunctional regulator of TGF
activity by facilitating secretion of latent TGF
from the cell (5), targeting latent TGF
to the ECM for storage (6, 7), providing a vehicle for release of the growth factor upon proteolytic cleavage (8, 9), and facilitating activation of latent TGF
(10, 11). Our data showing a critical role for fibronectin in regulating LTBP1 incorporation therefore suggest a previously unknown function for fibronectin as a regulator of TGF
via regulation of LTBP1 assembly. In support of this, we have shown reduced latent TGF
1 incorporation into the ECM of FN-null fibroblasts together with a corresponding increase in latent TGF
1 in the conditioned medium. Interestingly, Globus et al. (38) showed that antibodies to fibronectin induced apoptosis of osteoblasts and that this could be reversed by addition of TGF
, suggesting an interaction between fibronectin and TGF
in regulation of osteoblast function. The present findings showing that fibronectin is critical for LTBP1 and TGF
assembly into the ECM of osteoblasts may provide a molecular explanation for such interactions between fibronectin and TGF
in bone cells.
In summary, we have demonstrated a novel function for fibronectin in regulating the incorporation of LTBP1 and latent TGF
into the ECM. Because LTBPs are major regulators of transforming growth factor-
s, these studies may have important implications for diseases in which TGF
plays a pathogenic role, such as fibrotic diseases, cancers, osteoporosis, and arthritis. These studies will also have implications for current models of assembly of microfibrillar proteins.
| FOOTNOTES |
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To whom correspondence should be addressed: School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City 650 E. 25th St., Kansas City, MO 64108. Tel.: 816-235-6295; Fax: 816-235-5524; E-mail: dallass{at}umkc.edu.
1 The abbreviations used are: ECM, extracellular matrix; FRC, fetal rat calvarial cells; FN, fibronectin; LTBP1, latent transforming growth factor-
binding protein-1; TGF
, transforming growth factor-
; FPLC, fast protein liquid chromatography; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ![]()
2 S. L. Dallas, unpublished observations. ![]()
3 S. L. Dallas, manuscript in preparation. ![]()
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
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| REFERENCES |
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K. D. Hadfield, C. F. Rock, C. A. Inkson, S. L. Dallas, L. Sudre, G. A. Wallis, R. P. Boot-Handford, and A. E. Canfield HtrA1 Inhibits Mineral Deposition by Osteoblasts: REQUIREMENT FOR THE PROTEASE AND PDZ DOMAINS J. Biol. Chem., February 29, 2008; 283(9): 5928 - 5938. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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Q. Chen, P. Sivakumar, C. Barley, D. M. Peters, R. R. Gomes, M. C. Farach-Carson, and S. L. Dallas Potential Role for Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Regulation of Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) by Modulating Assembly of Latent TGF-beta-binding Protein-1 J. Biol. Chem., September 7, 2007; 282(36): 26418 - 26430. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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S. S. Chaudhry, S. A. Cain, A. Morgan, S. L. Dallas, C. A. Shuttleworth, and C. M. Kielty Fibrillin-1 regulates the bioavailability of TGF{beta}1 J. Cell Biol., January 29, 2007; 176(3): 355 - 367. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. C Fleisch, C. A Maxwell, and M.-H. Barcellos-Hoff The pleiotropic roles of transforming growth factor beta in homeostasis and carcinogenesis of endocrine organs. Endocr. Relat. Cancer, June 1, 2006; 13(2): 379 - 400. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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P. Sivakumar, A. Czirok, B. J. Rongish, V. P. Divakara, Y.-P. Wang, and S. L. Dallas New insights into extracellular matrix assembly and reorganization from dynamic imaging of extracellular matrix proteins in living osteoblasts J. Cell Sci., April 1, 2006; 119(7): 1350 - 1360. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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C. van Waveren, Y. Sun, H. S. Cheung, and C. T. Moraes Oxidative phosphorylation dysfunction modulates expression of extracellular matrix--remodeling genes and invasion Carcinogenesis, March 1, 2006; 27(3): 409 - 418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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