A 2D-DIGE approach to identify proteins involved in inside-out control of integrins

Leukocyte integrins are functionally regulated by "inside-out" signaling, meaning that stimulus-induced signaling pathways act on the intracellular integrin tail and induce activation of the receptor at the outside. Both a change in conformation (affinity) and in clustering (avidity/valency) of the receptors has been described to occur. This inside-out signaling is essential for adequate migration of leukocytes to inflammatory sites; however, the exact underlying mechanism is not known. We used two variants of a mouse acute lymphocytic leukemia cell line (L1210), a suspension (L1210-S) and an adherent (L1210-A) variant that were characterized by nonactivated and activated integrins (beta(1), beta(2) and beta(3)), respectively. L1210-S and L1210-A cells were compared on protein expression profiles by two-dimensional fluorescence difference in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). We found 86 protein spots that were more than 1.25-fold different between L1210-A and L1210-S. Only 4 protein spots were more than 2.5-fold different. We identified 29 proteins by mass spectrometry among which were gelsolin, L-plastin, and Rho GTPase dissociation inhibitor 2. These proteins were upregulated in the L1210-A cells versus L1210-S, which was verified by Western blot analysis. Overexpression of gelsolin in U937 resulted in increased high affinity integrin expression and cell adhesion. Comparison of functionally different cell lines from similar origin by 2D-DIGE might be a successful approach to identify regulatory proteins involved in integrin inside-out control.