Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule is a component of the endothelial junction involved in transendothelial monocyte migration

FEBS Lett. 2006 May 15;580(11):2637-45. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.04.013. Epub 2006 Apr 21.

Abstract

Transendothelial leukocyte migration is a major aspect of the innate immune response. It is essential in repair and regeneration of damaged tissues and is regulated by multiple cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) including members of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily. Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM/CD166) is an Ig CAM expressed by activated monocytes and endothelial cells. Hitherto, the functional relevance of ALCAM expression by endothelial cells and activated monocytes remained unknown. In this report, we demonstrate soluble recombinant human ALCAM significantly inhibited the rate of transendothelial migration of monocyte cell lines. Direct involvement of ALCAM in transendothelial migration was evident from the robust inhibition of this process by ALCAM blocking antibodies. However, soluble recombinant ALCAM had no impact on monocyte migration or adhesion to endothelium. Localization of ALCAM specifically at cell-cell junctions in endothelial cells supported its role in transendothelial migration. This study is the first to localize ALCAM to endothelial cell junctions and demonstrate a functional relevance for co-expression of ALCAM by activated monocytes and endothelial cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule / chemistry
  • Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule / genetics
  • Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Movement*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cricetinae
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Monocytes / cytology*
  • Monocytes / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule