The FN13 peptide inhibits human tumor cells invasion through the modulation of αvβ3 integrins organization and the inactivation of ILK pathway

Abstract

We report the effect of the stable expression of a 13 amino acid human fibronectin (FN) peptide (FN13) on the organization of the FN extracellular matrix (ECM) and of FN integrin receptors (FNRs), in relationship with the inhibition of cellular invasion, in three FN-ECM defective human tumor-derived cell lines: SK-Hep1C3, hepatoma, ACN, neuroblastoma, and SK-OV-3, ovary carcinoma. All these cell lines stably expressing the FN13 peptide, organized an FN-ECM, disorganized αvβ1 integrins and inactivated the ILK pathway, with the loss of secretion of MMP-9. This was associated with the inhibition of cell invasion in Matrigel matrix only in SK-Hep1C3 and ACN, but not in SK-OV-3 cells. Analysis of the integrin receptors organization showed that the FN13 expressing cells SK-Hep1C3 and ACN organized αvβ3 integrins, whereas SK-OV-3 organized αvβ5 dimers. The functional block of αvβ5 integrins, with an inactivating anti-αvβ5 antibody, led to the induction of αvβ3 integrins also in SK-OV-3 cells, and to the inhibition of cell invasion. These data show that in the human tumor cells studied FN13 inhibits the in vitro invasion through the dissociation of αvβ1 dimers, leading to ILK pathway inactivation, only when the organization of αvβ3 integrins is induced in the plasma membrane.