CD44 and annexin A2 mediate the C5a chemotactic cofactor function of the vitamin D binding protein

The vitamin D binding protein (DBP) is a plasma protein that significantly enhances the chemotactic activity of C5a and C5a(desArg) (cochemotactic activity). The objective of this study was to investigate how DBP mediates this process using neutrophils and U937 cells transfected with the C5a receptor (U937-C5aR cells) and comparing chemotaxis to C-activated serum (DBP dependent) vs purified C5a (DBP independent). Binding to the cell surface is essential for this protein to function as a chemotactic cofactor, and DBP binds to a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) on neutrophil plasma membrane preparations. To determine whether a CSPG also functions to mediate cochemotactic activity, U937-C5aR cells were grown in chlorate to inhibit CSPG sulfation or treated with chondroitinase AC. Either treatment significantly inhibited chemotaxis only to C-activated serum. CD44 is a major cell surface CSPG on leukocytes, and functions to facilitate chemotaxis. Treatment of cells with anti-CD44 blocks chemotaxis of neutrophils and U937-C5aR cells to C-activated serum but not purified C5a. DBP binds to CD44 on the cell surface as evidenced by coimmunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy, and cell binding studies. Annexin A2 associates with CD44 in lipid rafts; therefore, its potential role in mediating cochemotactic activity was investigated. Results demonstrate that anti-A2 inhibits neutrophil and U937-C5aR chemotaxis specifically to C-activated serum, blocks DBP binding to cells, and colocalizes with anti-DBP on the cell surface. These results provide clear evidence that CD44 and annexin A2 mediate the C5a chemotactic cofactor function of DBP.