Integrin-Matrix Clusters Form Podosome-like Adhesions in the Absence of Traction Forces

Summary Matrix-activated integrins can form different adhesion structures. We report that nontransformed fibroblasts develop podosome-like adhesions when spread on fluid Arg-Gly-Asp peptide (RGD)-lipid surfaces, whereas they habitually form focal adhesions on rigid RGD glass surfaces. Similar to classic macrophage podosomes, the podosome-like adhesions are protrusive and characterized by doughnut-shaped RGD rings that surround characteristic core components including F-actin, N-WASP, and Arp2/Arp3. Furthermore, there are 18 podosome markers in these adhesions, though they lack matrix metalloproteinases that characterize invadopodia and podosomes of Src-transformed cells. When nontransformed cells develop force on integrin-RGD clusters by pulling RGD lipids to prefabricated rigid barriers (metal lines spaced by 1–2 μm), these podosomes fail to form and instead form focal adhesions. The formation of podosomes on fluid surfaces is mediated by local activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and the production of phosphatidylinositol-(3,4,5)-triphosphate (PIP3) in a FAK/PYK2-dependent manner. Enrichment of PIP3 precedes N-WASP activation and the recruitment of RhoA-GAP ARAP3. We propose that adhesion structures can be modulated by traction force development and that production of PIP3 stimulates podosome formation and subsequent RhoA downregulation in the absence of traction force.
Graphical Abstract
Highlights • Nontransformed fibroblasts on RGD membranes form podosome-like protrusions • Nanopatterned RGD membranes enable traction force, suppressing protrusion formation • Local activation of PI3K transforms prepodosomal-like RGD clusters • PIP3-bound RhoA GAP ARAP3 is recruited at the protrusion and downregulates RhoA-GTP
Outside-in integrin activation plays a critical role in cell adhesion and migration. Yu, Sheetz, and colleagues now report that plating cells onto fluid RGD membranes, thus inhibiting the development of traction force, causes the formation of podosome-like protrusions. The podosome-like adhesions on RGD membranes lack matrix metalloproteinases but share many other molecular components with classic podosomes in macrophages. The authors demonstrate that podosome-like protrusion formation is mediated by a PIP3-dependent pathway and is further aided by ARAP3-mediated RhoA inactivation.