Abstract
Cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesive interactions mediated by integrins play crucial roles in leukocyte migration to inflamed tissues, and also in cell migration during embryogenesis.
Mast cells are known to play a central role in regulating inflammatory responses of allergic and chronic immune diseases. The localization of mast cells in normal and inflamed tissues is therefore, an important regulatory process to influence intensity and duration of inflammatory responses. However, little is known about mechanisms that control localization of mast cells.
Here we examined adhesion of extracellular matrix proteins and mast cells stimulated with steel factor (stem cell factor, kit ligand) and FcERI crosslinking. We showed that steel factor and FcεRI crosslinking were potent stimulators of avidity of β1 integrin VLA-5, which mediated a rapid and transient adhesion to fibronectin.
