In vitro Degradation of Endothelial Catenins by a Neutrophil Protease

• Published in: The Journal of cell biology Vol. 140; no. 2; pp. 403 - 407
• Main Authors: Moll, Thomas, Dejana, Elisabetta, Vestweber, Dietmar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Rockefeller University Press 26-01-1998; The Rockefeller University Press
• Subjects: Adherens junctions; beta Catenin; Cadherins; Cadherins - metabolism; Catenins; Cell Adhesion; Cells, Cultured; Cellular biology; Cytoskeletal Proteins - metabolism; Desmoplakins; Endopeptidases - blood; Endothelial cells; Endothelium, Vascular - metabolism; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; gamma Catenin; Human umbilical vein endothelial cells; Humans; Ice; Lead; Leukocytes; Neutrophils; Neutrophils - enzymology; Proteins; Trans-Activators
• ISSN: 0021-9525; 1540-8140
• DOI: 10.1083/jcb.140.2.403

It has been recently proposed that adhesion of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) to human umbilical vein endothelial cells leads to the disorganization of the vascular endothelial cadherin-dependent endothelial adherens junctions. Combined immunofluorescence and biochemical data suggested that after adhesion of PMNs to the endothelial cell surface, β-catenin, as well as plakoglobin was lost from the cadherin/catenin complex and from total cell lysates. In this study we present data that strongly suggest that the adhesion-dependent disappearance of endothelial catenins is not mediated by a leukocyte to endothelium signaling event, but is due to the activity of a neutrophil protease that is released upon detergent lysis of the cells.