Expression and tyrosine phosphorylation of Crk-associated substrate lymphocyte type (Cas-L) protein in human...

Crk-associated substrate lymphocyte type (Cas-L) protein, also known as human enhancer of filamentation 1 (Hef1) or neural precursor cell-expressed, developmentally down-regulated gene 9 (Nedd9), belongs to the Cas family of adapter proteins, which are involved in integrin signaling. Previous reports showed that Cas-L is expressed preferentially in lymphocytes and epithelial cells. Cas-L mediates signals from integrins, T-cell receptors, B-cells receptors, and transforming growth factor beta, leading to cell movement and cell division. Here, we report the expression of Cas-L in neutrophils. Cas-L was tyrosine-phosphorylated when human neutrophils were stimulated by fMLP, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), or lipopolysaccharide. The tyrosine phosphorylation of Cas-L in fMLP- or TNF- stimulated neutrophils was further enhanced by adhesion of the cells to their substrates. Cas-L was found to be localized at focal adhesions in stimulated neutrophils based on immunofluorescence microscopy. These findings suggest that Cas-L is one of the targets of inflammatory cytokines and is also modulated by cell adhesion process in neutrophils.