The FIB504 monoclonal antibody reacts with human and mouse Integrin beta 7 which is a 130 kDa glycoprotein belonging to the Ig superfamily. Integrin β7 associates with integrin α4 (CD49d) to form integrin α4β7 also known as LPAM-1 as well as integrin αE (CD103) to form integrin αEβ7. Integrin α4β7 signals when bound to its ligands VCAM-1 (CD106), MAdCAM-1 and fibronectin, while integrin αEβ7 binds to E-cadherin (CD324). Integrin α4β7 is expressed by peripheral lymphocytes, small subsets of thymocytes, and bone marrow progenitors while integrin αEβ7 is expressed on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, T regulatory cells, and a subset of CD8+ T cells in the lamina propria and lymph nodes. Integrin β7 plays roles in the adhesion of immune cells to endothelial cells thereby mediating cell migration and homing during an inflammatory response. The FIB504 antibody has been shown to have blocking activity.
Zhang, S., et al. (2020). "The role of T cell trafficking in CTLA-4 blockade-induced gut immunopathology" BMC Biol 18(1): 29. PubMed
BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICPI) can augment the anti-tumour response by blocking negative immunoregulators with monoclonal antibodies. The anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) antibody is the first ICPI which has shown remarkable benefits in the clinical treatment of cancers. However, the increased activity of the immune system also causes some side effects called immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Colitis is one of the most common irAEs related to anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy. RESULTS: We identified that CD4(+) T cells were the primary responders in CTLA-4 blockade and that the expansion of gut-homing CD4(+) T cells by anti-CTLA-4 therapy was independent of CD103. We used dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice as our model and tested the possibility of using a trafficking-blocking antibody to treat anti-CTLA-4 antibody-induced irAEs. We found that blocking T cell homing increased colitis severity in the context of CTLA-4 blockade and that gut-trafficking blockade had different effects on different Th subsets and could facilitate the proliferation of Th17 cells in the lamina propria (LP). CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveals the fundamental mechanism underlying trafficking-blocking antibody therapy for CTLA-4 blockade-induced colitis and provide a caution in regard to apply trafficking-blocking antibody treatment under CTLA-4 blockade condition.
in vivo blocking of Integrin β7
Naskar, D., et al. (2017). "Synthetic Retinoid AM80 Ameliorates Lung and Arthritic Autoimmune Responses by Inhibiting T Follicular Helper and Th17 Cell Responses" J Immunol 198(5): 1855-1864. PubMed
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that affects the joints and other organs. Pulmonary complications contribute significantly to rheumatoid arthritis mortality. Retinoic acid and its synthetic compound AM80 play roles in immunoregulation but their effect on mucosal autoimmunity remains largely unknown. T follicular helper (Tfh) and Th17 cells are known to promote inflammation and autoantibody production. Using the K/BxN autoimmune arthritis model, we elucidate a novel mechanism whereby oral AM80 administration suppressed lung mucosa-associated Tfh and autoantibody responses by increasing the gut-homing α4β7 integrin expression on Tfh cells. This diverted Tfh cells from systemic (non-gut) inflamed sites such as the lung into the gut-associated lymphoid tissues, Peyer’s patches, and thus reduced the systemic autoantibodies. AM80 also inhibited the lung Th17 response. AM80’s effect in the lungs was readily applied to the joints as AM80 also inhibited Tfh and Th17 responses in the spleen, the major autoantibody producing site known to correlate with K/BxN arthritis severity. Finally, we used anti-β7 treatment as an alternative approach, demonstrating that manipulating T cell migration between the gut and systemic sites alters the systemic disease outcome. The β7 blockade prevented both Tfh and Th17 cells from entering the non-immunopathogenic site, the gut, and retained these T effector cells in the systemic sites, leading to augmented arthritis. These data suggest a dual beneficial effect of AM80, targeting both Tfh and Th17 cells, and warrant strict safety monitoring of gut-homing perturbing agents used in treating intestinal inflammation.
Immunoprecipitation, Western Blot
Chan, Y. C., et al. (2015). "Leukocyte integrin alpha4beta7 associates with heat shock protein 70" Mol Cell Biochem 409(1-2): 263-269. PubMed
The leukocyte integrin cell adhesion molecules alpha4beta7 and alphaEbeta7 mediate the homing and retention of lymphocytes to the gut, and sites of inflammation. Here we have identified heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) as a major protein that associates with the cytoplasmic domain of the integrin beta7 subunit. HSPs are molecular chaperones that protect cells from stress but more recently have been reported to also regulate cell adhesion and invasion via modulation of beta1, beta2, and beta3 integrins and integrin-associated signalling molecules. Several HSP70 isoforms including HSP70-3, HSP70-1L, HSP70-8, and HSP70-9 were specifically precipitated from T cells by a bead-conjugated beta7 subunit cytoplasmic domain peptide and subsequently identified by high-resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In confirmation, the beta7 subunit was co-immunoprecipitated from a T cell lysate by an anti-HSP70 antibody. Further, recombinant human HSP70-1a was precipitated by beta7 cytoplasmic domain-coupled beads. The HSP70 inhibitor KNK437 decreased the expression of HSP70 without affecting the expression of the beta7 integrin. It significantly inhibited alpha4beta7-mediated adhesion of T cells to mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1 (MAdCAM-1), suggesting HSP70 is critical for maintaining beta7 integrin signalling function. The functional implications of the association of beta7 integrins with the different isoforms of HSP70 warrants further investigation.
Flow Cytometry
Martin-Blondel, G., et al. (2015). "Migration of encephalitogenic CD8 T cells into the central nervous system is dependent on the alpha4beta1-integrin" Eur J Immunol . PubMed
Although CD8 T cells are key players in neuroinflammation, little is known about their trafficking cues into the central nervous system (CNS). We used a murine model of CNS autoimmunity to define the molecules involved in cytotoxic CD8 T-cell migration into the CNS. Using a panel of mAbs, we here show that the alpha4beta1-integrin is essential for CD8 T-cell interaction with CNS endothelium. We also investigated which alpha4beta1-integrin ligands expressed by endothelial cells are implicated. The blockade of VCAM-1 did not protect against autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and only partly decreased the CD8+ T-cell infiltration into the CNS. In addition, inhibition of junctional adhesion molecule-B expressed by CNS endothelial cells also decreases CD8 T-cell infiltration. CD8 T cells may use additional and possibly unidentified adhesion molecules to gain access to the CNS.
Flow Cytometry
Byrareddy, S. N., et al. (2015). "Species-specific differences in the expression and regulation of alpha4beta7 integrin in various nonhuman primates" J Immunol 194(12): 5968-5979. PubMed
Among nonhuman primates, SIV-infected Asian pigtailed macaques (PM) are relatively more susceptible to infection and disease progression than SIV-infected rhesus macaques (RM). In addition, SIV-infected African natural hosts such as the sooty mangabeys (SM) are resistant to disease. The mechanisms associated with such species-related variable clinical outcomes remain ill-defined but hold the potential to provide insights into the underlying mechanisms surrounding HIV pathogenesis. Recent findings indicate that the expression of the heterodimeric gut homing integrin alpha4beta7 can influence both susceptibility and disease progression in RM. It was reasoned that differences in the frequencies/surface densities of alpha4beta7-expressing lymphocytes might contribute to the differences in the clinical outcome of SIV infection among NHPs. In this article, we report that CD4(+) T cells from PM constitutively express significantly higher levels of alpha4beta7 than RM or SM. Retinoic acid, a key regulator of alpha4beta7 expression, was paradoxically found at higher levels in the plasma of SM versus RM or PM. We also observed pairing of beta7 with alphaE (alphaEbeta7) on CD4(+) T cells in the peripheral blood of SM, but not PM or RM. Finally, the differential mean density of expression of alpha4beta7 in RM versus SM versus PM was predominantly dictated by species-specific sequence differences at the level of the beta7 promoters, as determined by in vitro reporter/promoter construct transfection studies. We propose that differences in the regulation and expression of alpha4beta7 may explain, in part, the differences in susceptibility and SIV disease progression in these NHP models.
Flow Cytometry
Yamada, D., et al. (2014). "beta7 Integrin controls mast cell recruitment, whereas alphaE integrin modulates the number and function of CD8+ T cells in immune complex-mediated tissue injury" J Immunol 192(9): 4112-4121. PubMed
Immune complex (IC) deposition causes significant tissue injury associated with various autoimmune diseases such as vasculitis. In the cascade of inflammation, cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix adhesion via adhesion molecules are essential. To assess the role of alphaE and beta7 integrin in IC-mediated tissue injury, peritoneal and cutaneous reverse-passive Arthus reaction was examined in mice lacking alphaE integrin (alphaE(-/-)) or beta7 integrin (beta7(-/-)). Both alphaE(-/-) and beta7(-/-) mice exhibited significantly attenuated neutrophil infiltration in the peritoneal and cutaneous Arthus reaction. beta7 integrin deficiency, not alphaE integrin deficiency, significantly reduced the number of mast cells in the peritoneal cavity, which was consistent with the result that mast cells expressed only alpha4beta7 integrin, not alphaEbeta7 integrin. alphaE(-/-) mice instead revealed the reduction of CD8(+) T cells in the peritoneal cavity, and nearly half of them in wild-type mice expressed alphaE integrin. These alphaE(+)CD8(+) T cells produced more proinflammatory cytokines than alphaE(-)CD8(+) T cells, and adoptive transfer of alphaE(+)CD8(+) T cell into alphaE(-/-) recipients restored cutaneous and peritoneal Arthus reaction. These results suggest that in the peritoneal and cutaneous reverse-passive Arthus reaction, alpha4beta7 integrin is involved in the migration of mast cells for initial IC recognition. alphaEbeta7 integrin, in contrast, contributes by recruiting alphaE(+)CD8(+) T cells, which produce more proinflammatory cytokines than alphaE(-)CD8(+) T cells and amplify IC-mediated inflammation.
Flow Cytometry
Yue, J., et al. (2013). "The unique disulfide bond-stabilized W1 beta4-beta1 loop in the alpha4 beta-propeller domain regulates integrin alpha4beta7 affinity and signaling" J Biol Chem 288(20): 14228-14237. PubMed
Integrin alpha4beta7 mediates rolling and firm adhesion of lymphocytes pre- and post-activation, which is distinct from most integrins only mediating firm cell adhesion upon activation. This two-phase cell adhesion suggests a unique molecular basis for the dynamic interaction of alpha4beta7 with its ligand, mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1 (MAdCAM-1). Here we report that a disulfide bond-stabilized W1 beta4-beta1 loop in alpha4 beta-propeller domain plays critical roles in regulating integrin alpha4beta7 affinity and signaling. Either breaking the disulfide bond or deleting the disulfide bond-occluded segment in the W1 beta4-beta1 loop inhibited rolling cell adhesion supported by the low-affinity interaction between MAdCAM-1 and inactive alpha4beta7 but negligibly affected firm cell adhesion supported by the high-affinity interaction between MAdCAM-1 and Mn(2+)-activated alpha4beta7. Additionally, disrupting the disulfide bond or deleting the disulfide bond-occluded segment not only blocked the conformational change and activation of alpha4beta7 triggered by talin or phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate via inside-out signaling but also disrupted integrin-mediated outside-in signaling and impaired phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and paxillin. Thus, these findings reveal a particular molecular basis for alpha4beta7-mediated rolling cell adhesion and a novel regulatory element of integrin affinity and signaling.
Effect of Integrin Blockade on Experimental Spondyloarthritis.
In Biomolecules on 31 October 2024 by Yau, E., Lim, M., et al.
Spondyloarthritis (SpA) describes a group of diseases characterized by chronic inflammation in the spine and peripheral joints. While pathogenesis is still unclear, proinflammatory gut-derived immune cells have been identified in the joints of SpA patients. We previously identified an enriched population of integrin-expressing cells in the joints of SpA patients. Entry of gut-derived cells into joints may be mediated by these integrins. In the current study, we used the SKG murine model of SpA to study the impact of integrin blockade. Mice were injected with antibodies against the integrin α4β7 or the β7 monomer twice a week. Treatment with antibodies against α4β7 reduced disease severity in curdlan-injected SKG mice, with disease scores being comparable between treatment initiation times. Targeting the β7 monomer led to reduced arthritis severity compared to targeting the α4β7 dimer. Treatment with antibodies against α4β7 or β7 decreased expression of these integrins in CD4+ T cells, with the frequency of αE+β7+ T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes correlating with disease severity. In summary, we showed that integrin blockade showed potential for ameliorating disease in a murine model of SpA, lending support for further studies testing integrin blockade in SpA.
Immunology and Microbiology
The protective roles of integrin α4β7 and Amphiregulin-expressing innate lymphoid cells in lupus nephritis.
In Cellular Molecular Immunology on 1 July 2024 by Ryu, S., Kim, K. A., et al.
Increased myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) frequency is associated with worse outcomes and poor therapeutic response in glioblastoma (GBM). Monocytic (m) MDSCs represent the predominant subset in the GBM microenvironment. However, the molecular basis of mMDSC enrichment in the tumor microenvironment compared to granulocytic (g) MDSCs has yet to be determined. Here, we report that mMDSCs and gMDSCs display differences in their tumoraccelerating ability, with mMDSCs driving tumor growth in GBM models. Epigenetic assessments indicate enhanced gene accessibility for cell adhesion programs in mMDSCs and higher cellsurface integrin expression in mouse and human mMDSCs. Integrin β1 blockage abrogated the tumor-promoting phenotype of mMDSCs and altered the immune profile in the tumor microenvironment. These findings suggest that integrin β1 expression underlies the enrichment of mMDSCs in tumors and represents a putative immunotherapy target to attenuate myeloid cell-driven immune suppression in GBM. h4>Summary/h4> Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) drive glioblastoma growth; however, the function of specific MDSCs subsets is unclear. Bayik et al. demonstrate that adhesion programs are enhanced in monocytic MDSCs and responsible for their GBM-promoting function.
Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICPI) can augment the anti-tumour response by blocking negative immunoregulators with monoclonal antibodies. The anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) antibody is the first ICPI which has shown remarkable benefits in the clinical treatment of cancers. However, the increased activity of the immune system also causes some side effects called immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Colitis is one of the most common irAEs related to anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy.
We identified that CD4+ T cells were the primary responders in CTLA-4 blockade and that the expansion of gut-homing CD4+ T cells by anti-CTLA-4 therapy was independent of CD103. We used dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice as our model and tested the possibility of using a trafficking-blocking antibody to treat anti-CTLA-4 antibody-induced irAEs. We found that blocking T cell homing increased colitis severity in the context of CTLA-4 blockade and that gut-trafficking blockade had different effects on different Th subsets and could facilitate the proliferation of Th17 cells in the lamina propria (LP).
Our data reveals the fundamental mechanism underlying trafficking-blocking antibody therapy for CTLA-4 blockade-induced colitis and provide a caution in regard to apply trafficking-blocking antibody treatment under CTLA-4 blockade condition.
