Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors block leukocyte adhesion and migration

Leukocyte trafficking is a tightly regulated process essential for an appropriate inflammatory response. We now report a new adhesion pathway that allows unstimulated leukocytes to adhere to and migrate through exposed endothelial matrix or high-density ligand, a process we have termed ligand-induced adhesion. This ligand-induced adhesion is integrin mediated, but in contrast to phorbol ester-stimulated adhesion, it is not dependent on the small GTPase Rap-1 activity. Instead, we show a critical role for cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) 4 in ligand-induced adhesion by three independent lines of evidence: inhibition by pharmacological inhibitors of Cdk, inhibition by dominant-negative construct of Cdk4, and inhibition by Cdk4 small interfering RNA. The major substrate of Cdk4, Rb, is not required for ligand-induced adhesion, suggesting the involvement of a novel Cdk4 substrate. We also demonstrate that Cdk4(-/-) mice have impaired recruitment of lymphocytes to the lung following injury. The finding that Cdk inhibitors can block leukocyte adhesion and migration may expand the clinical indications for this emerging class of therapeutics.