Different integrins mediate cell spreading, haptotaxis and lateral migration of HaCaT keratinocytes on fibronectin.

Collaborative role of various fibronectin-binding integrins (alpha5beta1, alphavbeta1 and alphavbeta6) as mediators of cell adhesion and migration on fibronectin was studied using cultured HaCaT keratinocytes. This cell line spontaneously expressed all three fibronectin-binding integrins. In addition, the expression of alphavbeta6 integrin was strongly and specifically upregulated by transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1) whereas the amount of other integrins remained practically unchanged on the cell surface. Adhesion, spreading and motility of HaCaT keratinocytes on fibronectin were promoted by TGFbeta1. Based on antibody blocking experiments, both untreated and TGFbeta1-treated HaCaT cells used alphavbeta6 integrin as their main fibronectin receptor for cell spreading. In contrast to TGFbeta1-treated cells, the untreated cells also needed alpha5beta1 integrin for maximal cell spreading on fibronectin. Combinations of antibodies blocking both of these receptors totally prevented spreading of both untreated and TGFbeta1-treated cells. Haptotactic motility of individual HaCaT cells through fibronectin-coated membranes was again mainly dependent on alphavbeta6 integrin, while alphavbeta1 and alpha5beta1 integrins played a lesser role both in untreated and TGFbeta1-treated HaCaT cells. However, unlike haptotaxis, lateral migration of HaCaT cell sheet was mainly mediated by beta1 integrins, and alphavbeta6 integrin showed a minor role. The migration process appeared to involve a number of beta1 integrins that could adaptively replace each other when blocking antibodies were present. Thus, keratinocytes appear to use different fibronectin receptors for different functions, such as cell spreading, haptotaxis and lateral migration. The cells can also adapt to a situation where one receptor is unfunctional by switching to another receptor of the same ligand.