Partial characterization of cell-type X collagen interactions

Type X collagen is a short-chain non-fibrillar collagen that is deposited exclusively at sites of new bone formation. Although this collagen has been implicated in chondrocyte hypertrophy and endochondral ossification, its precise function remains unclear. One possible function could be to regulate the processes of chondrocyte hypertrophy through direct cell-type X collagen interactions. Adhesions of embryonic chick chondrocytes, and cell lines with known expression of collagen-binding integrins (MG63 and HOS), were assayed on chick type X collagen substrates, including the native, heat-denatured and pepsin-digested collagen, and the isolated C-terminal non-collagenous (NC1) domain. Type X collagen supported the greatest level of adhesion for all cell types tested. The involvement of the alpha2beta1 integrin in type X collagen-cell interaction was demonstrated by adhesion studies in the presence of Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) ions and integrin-function-blocking antibodies. Cells expressing alpha2beta1 integrin (chick chondrocytes and MG63 cells) also adhered to heat-denatured type X collagen and the isolated NC1 domain; however, removal of the non-collagenous domains by limited pepsinization of type X collagen resulted in very low levels of adhesion. Both focal contacts and actin stress-fibre formation were apparent in cells plated on type X collagen. The presence of alpha2 and beta1 integrin subunits in isolated chondrocytes and epiphyseal cartilage was also confirmed by immunolocalization. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that type X collagen is capable of interacting directly with chondrocytes and other cells, primarily via alpha2beta1 integrin. These findings are atypical from the fibrillar collagen-cell interactions via collagen binding integrins in that: (1) the triple-helical conformation is not strictly required for cell adhesion; (2) the NC1 domain is also involved in the adhesion of alpha2beta1-expressing cells. These data form the basis for further studies into the mechanism and biological significance of type X collagen deposition in the growth plate.