Microglial expression of alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 integrins is regulated by cytokines and the extracellular

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Isolation of Cortical Microglia with Preserved Immunophenotype and Functionality From Murine Neonates
09:12

Isolation of Cortical Microglia with Preserved Immunophenotype and Functionality From Murine Neonates

Published on: January 30, 2014

Richard Milner1

  • 1Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA. rmilner@scripps.edu

Glia
|November 6, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Microglia utilize both alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 integrins for activation. The alphavbeta5 integrin is not essential for microglial adhesion or matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression when responding to vitronectin.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Extracellular Matrix Biology

Background:

  • Microglia are key immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS), regulating inflammation.
  • The extracellular matrix (ECM) protein vitronectin activates microglia, shifting them to a potentially destructive phenotype.
  • Vitronectin's activating effect is mediated by alphav integrins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the alphavbeta5 integrin in microglial adhesion and activation by vitronectin.
  • To analyze microglial responses in beta5 integrin-null murine models.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized beta5 integrin-null murine microglia for adhesion and activation assays.
  • Employed flow cytometry to analyze alphav integrin expression.
  • Performed gel zymography to assess matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression.

Main Results:

  • Beta5 integrin-null microglia showed no defect in adhesion to vitronectin.
  • Microglia express both alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 integrins.
  • Cytokines and ECM proteins differentially regulate alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 integrin expression.
  • Alphavbeta5 integrin-null microglia exhibited normal MMP-9 expression in response to vitronectin.

Conclusions:

  • Microglia express both alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 integrins, with independently regulated expression patterns.
  • The alphavbeta5 integrin is not essential for vitronectin-mediated microglial adhesion and MMP-9 expression.

More Related Videos

Immunofluorescence Staining Using IBA1 and TMEM119 for Microglial Density, Morphology and Peripheral Myeloid Cell Infiltration Analysis in Mouse Brain10:40

Immunofluorescence Staining Using IBA1 and TMEM119 for Microglial Density, Morphology and Peripheral Myeloid Cell Infiltration Analysis in Mouse Brain

Published on: October 27, 2019

Rapid and Refined CD11b Magnetic Isolation of Primary Microglia with Enhanced Purity and Versatility07:54

Rapid and Refined CD11b Magnetic Isolation of Primary Microglia with Enhanced Purity and Versatility

Published on: April 13, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Integrins01:10

Integrins

Animal and protozoan cells do not have cell walls to help maintain shape and provide structural stability. Instead, these eukaryotic cells secrete a sticky mass of carbohydrates and proteins into the spaces between adjacent cells. This network of proteins and molecules is called an extracellular matrix or ECM.
Some ECM proteins assemble into a basement membrane to which the remaining components adhere. Proteoglycans typically form the bulk of the ECM while fibrous proteins, like collagen,...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules01:31

Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules

Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
Activation of Integrins01:15

Activation of Integrins

Integrins bind ligands and transmit information from outside the cell to inside or vice-versa through an "outside-in signaling" or "inside-out signaling."
In "outside-in signaling," external factors in the extracellular space bind to exposed ligand binding sites on integrins. This causes the inactive protein to undergo a conformational change to become active. Integrins are often clustered on the cell membrane. Repetitive and regularly spaced ligand binding events provide an effective stimulus.
Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions01:24

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

The extracellular matrix or ECM holds cells together to form a tissue and allows the cells within the tissue to communicate. ECM comprises proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, etc. The most abundant protein in this space is collagen. Collagen fibers are interwoven with carbohydrate-containing protein molecules called proteoglycans. ECM allows cell migration and provides a structural scaffold at cell adhesion that anchors the cell when the extracellular matrix proteins interact with...