Yx. Butler et al., MODULATION OF T-CELL MORPHOLOGY AND INDUCTION OF HOMOTYPIC ADHESION BY A PROTEIN-TYROSINE KINASE INHIBITOR, Cellular immunology, 163(1), 1995, pp. 129-138
T cells are spherical in culture and during travel through the bloodst
ream, They depart from this shape as part of the adhesion cascade by w
hich they penetrate endothelium, interact with the extracellular matri
x, and migrate through tissues, The mechanisms by which shape changes
and altered adhesive properties are regulated are largely uncharacteri
zed; however, they involve modulation of protein phosphorylation on ty
rosine, Here, an inhibitor (MDHC) of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) ca
used a shift in the morphology of a human T cell line from spherical t
o spread, This involved cytoskeletal components and was preceded by al
tered tyrosyl-phosphorylation and accompanied by an increased capacity
for homotypic adhesion involving LFA-1 and CD2, Examples exist demons
trating prevention of morphological alteration or cell adhesion by PTK
inhibitors, and thus MDHC differed from these other inhibitors. This
suggests differential sites of action for PTK inhibitors and perhaps t
hat MDHC accessed different steps in the adhesion cascade. (C) 1995 Ac
ademic Press, Inc.