RhoGTPase regulation and function in leukocyte transendothelial migration

Previously, our lab has shown that the endothelium activity participates together with the leukocytes in the process of TEM by forming dorsal membrane ruffles that surround the adherent leukocyte. We found that the RhoGTPases Rac1 and RhoG are responsible for this through their remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. Activation of Rac1 and RhoG can be induced through so-called GEF (guanine-nucleotide exchange factor) proteins.

In the past year, our lab discovered a role for the GEF Trio in leukocyte transendothelial migration. Trio can activate Rac1 and RhoG, resulting in the formation of the dorsal protruding membranes that surround adhering leukocytes (see figure below).

 

trio and icam1 accumulated

 

 

Trio (green) and ICAM-1 (red) accumulate around an ICAM-1-coated bead (dashed line).

Moreover, we found that Trio protein and mRNA expression were upregulated by inflammatory stimuli such as TNF, IL-1 and LPS. Reduction of Trio expression by short hairpin RNA reduced migration of leukocytes across endothelial cells under physiological flow. In addition, a pharmacological inhibitor for Trio decreased leukocyte transendothelial migration.Further characterization of Trio showed that this protein also mediates the spreading and migration of cells on a fibronectin-coated surface. Biochemical studies indicated that Trio activated the small GTPases Rac1 and RhoG through its N-terminal DH-PH domain, independent from its flanking SH3 domain. However, for Trio-mediated spreading and migration, no role for Trio-induced RhoG could be determined, suggesting that Trio-mediated spreading and migration is solely dependent on Rac1.

In the initial stages of transendothelial migration, leukocytes use the endothelial integrin ligands ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 for strong adhesion. Leukocyte binding is accompanied by the clustering of ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 on the cell that VCAM-1 localizes to sites of ICAM-1 clustering, induced by anti-ICAM-1 antibody-coated beads. Biochemical pull-down assays showed that ICAM-1 clustering induced its association to VCAM-1, suggesting a physical link between these two adhesion molecules. This association was partly dependent on lipid rafts, on F-actin and on the clustering of ICAM-1. These data show that VCAM-1 can be recruited, in an integrin-independent fashion, to clustered ICAM-1 which may serve to promote ICAM-1-mediated leukocyte adhesion. Related to protein-protein interactions within the plane of the apical endothelial cell membrane is the lateral mobility of ICAM-1. This is related to both its participation in specific membrane domains as well as its (integrin-induced) clustering. We therefore studied the dynamics of endothelial ICAM-1 under non-clustered and clustered conditions.Detailed scanning electron and fluorescent microscopy showed that the apical surface of endothelial cells constitutively forms small filopodia-like protrusions that are positive for ICAM-1 and freely move within the lateral plane of the membrane. Clustering of ICAM-1, using anti-ICAM-1 antibody-coated beads, efficiently and rapidly recruits ICAM-1. Using fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching (FRAP), we found that clustering increased the immobile fraction of ICAM-1, compared to non-clustered ICAM-1. This shift required the intracellular portion of ICAM-1. Moreover, biochemical assays showed that ICAM-1 clustering recruited beta-actin and filamin. Cytochalasin B, which interferes with actin polymerization, delayed the clustering of ICAM-1. In addition, we could show that cytochalasin B decreased the immobile fraction of clustered ICAM-1-GFP, but had no effect on non-clustered ICAM-1. Also, the motor protein myosin-II is recruited to ICAM-1 adhesion sites and its inhibition increased the immobile fraction of both non-clustered and clustered ICAM-1. Finally, blocking Rac1 activation, the formation of lipid rafts, myosin-II activity or actin polymerization, but not Src, reduced the adhesive function of ICAM-1, tested under physiological flow conditions. Together, these findings indicate that ICAM-1 clustering is regulated by the actin cytoskeleton in an inside-out fashion. Overall, these data indicate that signaling events within the endothelium are required for efficient ICAM-1-mediated leukocyte adhesion and transendothelial migration.

Key publications