Platelet-derived growth factor BB-mediated normalization of dermal interstitial fluid pressure after mast cell...

Interstitial fluid pressure (PIF) is one of the determinants of transcapillary fluid flux and thereby interstitial fluid volume. Cell-mediated control of PIF regulates fluid content in the loose interstitial connective tissues that surround the capillary bed. To maintain a normal PIF in dermis, beta1 integrins mediate the tensile strength applied by connective tissue cells on the extracellular matrix. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB normalizes anaphylaxis-induced reduction of PIF. Anti-beta3 integrin IgG and a cyclic RGD peptide that inhibits the alphaVbeta3 integrin blocked the ability of PDGF-BB to normalize the lowered PIF resulting from mast cell degranulation. PDGF-BB was unable to normalize PIF lowered as a result of mast cell degranulation in beta3-negative mice. Monoclonal anti-beta3 integrin IgG had no effect on PIF in normal mouse dermis. In contrast, administration of anti-beta1 integrin IgM lowered PIF in normal dermis but had no effect on PDGF-BB-induced normalization of PIF after anaphylaxis. Furthermore, collagen gel contraction mediated by wild-type mouse embryonal fibroblasts were only marginally affected by function-blocking anti-beta1 integrin antibodies, especially in the presence of PDGF-BB. In contrast, contraction mediated by alphaV-negative mouse embryonic fibroblasts was completely blocked by anti-beta1 integrin antibodies, even after stimulation with PDGF-BB. These results show a previously unrecognized in vivo function for the alphaVbeta3 integrin, as a participant in the control of PIF during inflammatory reactions. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that PDGF-BB induces connective tissue cells to generate tensile forces via alphaVbeta3 during such reactions.