Alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 integrins and their role in muscle precursor cell adhesion

Functional adaptation of skeletal muscle is a requirement for different muscle groups (e.g. craniofacial, ocular and limb) to undergo site-specific changes. Such tissue remodelling depends on dynamic interactions between muscle cells and their extracellular matrix, via participation of multifunctional molecules such as integrins. In view of data suggesting a role in fundamental muscle biology and muscle development in other systems, the present study has focused on expression and function of alpha v integrins, in cultured adult human craniofacial muscle (masseter) precursor cells and myotubes, and the predominantly fibroblastic IC (interstitial cells) population.

Flow-cytometric phenotyping and immunofluorescence phenotyping show that alpha v, alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 are expressed in all mononuclear cells (muscle precursors and IC) seeded on muscle extracellular molecules such as gelatin, VN (vitronectin) and FN (fibronectin). In this system, blockade of alpha v activity using a function-perturbing antibody abrogates cell migration on VN and FN. alpha v integrins act predominantly as VN receptors as cell-substrate attachment is diminished when alpha v neutralizing agents are introduced into cultures seeded on VN, and this inhibition is reversible; these integrins also appear to be minor FN receptors. These results demonstrate that the alpha v subset of integrins present on both myogenic precursors and IC is an essential cohort of VN and, to a lesser extent, FN receptors mediating cell adhesion and, either directly or indirectly, arbiters of cell motility.