Activation of integrin alpha5beta1 delays apoptosis of Ntera2 neuronal cells

Integrins are dynamic membrane proteins that mediate adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix. Integrins initiate signal transduction, alone and cooperatively with growth factor receptors, and regulate many aspects of cell behavior. We report here that alpha5beta1-mediated adhesion of Ntera2 neuronal cells to fibronectin decreased apoptosis in response to serum withdrawal. Adhesion induced phosphorylation of FAK, and strongly increased the AKT phosphorylation induced by growth factors, demonstrating for the first time in neuronal cells that integrin-mediated adhesion and growth factors cooperate to regulate AKT activity. Integrins exist on cells in different activation states, and cell survival on fibronectin was enhanced by the antibody 12G10, that modulates the conformation of beta1 in favor of its active form. The antibody 12G10 specifically delayed loss of phosphorylation of AKT on serine 473, and GSK-3beta on serine 9, induced by serum withdrawal, suggesting that these kinases are critical sensors of integrin activation on neuronal cells.