The vitronectin receptor (alpha V beta 3) as an example for the role of integrins in T lymphocyte stimulation.

Integrins are a family of cell surface receptors which mediate the adhesion of cells to each other or to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. The interaction of integrins with their ligands or counter-receptors was initially considered to be a one-way process in that cells actively regulate the interaction of integrins with their ligands ('inside-out signal'). In contrast, it was not obvious that cells would receive a signal from the outside via the integrin heterodimers following ligand binding ('outside-in signal'). Recent evidence increasingly supports the active role of integrins in cell activation and proliferation. Many reports describe the effects of integrin-mediated signaling in lymphoid cells. Our studies of gamma/delta T cells, expressing the beta 3 integrin vitronectin receptor (VNR), reflect some of the consequences this active interaction between lymphocytes and the ECM could have for T cell activation and differentiation. The VNR has been described as a T cell costimulatory molecule. We recently reported that the VNR has the potential to stimulate cytokine secretion in T cell hybridomas without involvement of T cell receptor-mediated signals. Further studies demonstrated tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins following VNR cross-linking and the interaction of the VNR with protein kinases. Intensive research focuses on the signal transduction mechanisms of integrins and their interaction with other costimulatory or activation molecules. This knowledge is important to better understand the role of adhesion molecules, the ECM, and the cellular microenvironment for lymphocyte activation and differentiation.