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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Tension Gauge Tether Probes for Quantifying Growth Factor Mediated Integrin Mechanics and Adhesion
Published on: February 11, 2022
Interaction between insulin-like growth factor-I receptor and alphaVbeta3 integrin linked signaling pathways:
1Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, CB 7170, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. endo@med.unc.edu
Abstract:
Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane proteins that mediate cell attachment to extracellular matrix, migration, division, and inhibition of apoptosis. Because growth factors are also important for these processes, there has been interest in cooperative signaling between growth factor receptors and integrins. IGF-I is an important growth factor for vascular cells. One integrin, alphaVbeta3, that is expressed in smooth muscle cells modulates IGF-I actions. Ligand occupancy of alphaVbeta3 is required for IGF-I to stimulate cell migration and division. Src homology 2 containing tyrosine phosphatase (SHP-2) is a tyrosine phosphatase whose recruitment to signaling molecules is stimulated by growth factors including IGF-I. If alphaVbeta3 ligand occupancy is inhibited, there is no recruitment of SHP-2 to alphaVbeta3 and its transfer to downstream signaling molecules is blocked. Ligand occupancy of alphaVbeta3 stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta3-subunit, resulting in recruitment of SHP-2. This transfer is mediated by an insulin receptor substrate-1-related protein termed DOK-1. Subsequently, SHP-2 is transferred to another transmembrane protein, SHPS-1. This transfer requires IGF-I receptor-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of SHPS-1, which contains two YXXL motifs that mediate SHP-2 binding. The transfer of SHP-2 to SHPS-1 is also required for recruitment of Shc to SHPS-1. Ligand occupancy of alphaVbeta3 results in sustained Shc phosphorylation and enhanced Shc recruitment. Shc activation results in induction of MAPK. Inhibition of the Shc/SHPS-1 complex formation results in failure to achieve sustained MAPK activation and an attenuated mitogenic response. Thus, within the vessel wall, a mechanism exists whereby ligand occupancy of the alphaVbeta3 integrin is required for assembly of a multicomponent membrane signaling complex that is necessary for cells to respond optimally to IGF-I.
Insights
Integrin alphaVbeta3 binding is essential for vascular cells to respond to insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). This interaction facilitates the assembly of a signaling complex, enabling cell migration and division.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Molecular signaling
- Integrin and growth factor receptor interactions
Background:
- Integrins mediate cell adhesion, migration, and survival, cooperating with growth factor receptors.
- Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is crucial for vascular cell function.
- Integrin alphaVbeta3 in smooth muscle cells modulates IGF-I signaling pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism by which alphaVbeta3 integrin occupancy influences IGF-I-mediated signaling in vascular cells.
- To investigate the role of SHP-2 phosphatase in the alphaVbeta3-IGF-I signaling complex.
- To determine the necessity of this signaling complex for optimal cellular response to IGF-I.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the role of alphaVbeta3 integrin ligand occupancy in IGF-I-stimulated cell migration and division.
- Examined the recruitment and transfer of tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 to signaling molecules.
- Analyzed the formation of a signaling complex involving SHPS-1, Shc, and MAPK activation.
Main Results:
- Ligand occupancy of alphaVbeta3 is required for IGF-I to stimulate cell migration and division.
- alphaVbeta3 engagement triggers tyrosine phosphorylation of its beta3-subunit, recruiting SHP-2 via DOK-1.
- SHP-2 transfer to SHPS-1, dependent on IGF-I receptor activity, is essential for Shc recruitment and sustained MAPK activation, crucial for mitogenic response.
Conclusions:
- AlphaVbeta3 integrin activation is a prerequisite for assembling a multi-component membrane signaling complex.
- This complex is necessary for optimal vascular cell responsiveness to IGF-I, involving SHP-2, SHPS-1, and Shc.
- The findings reveal a critical interplay between integrins and growth factor signaling in vascular cell regulation.
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