Overexpression of integrin α6 and β4 enhances adhesion and proliferation of human retinal pigment epithelial cells on layers of porcine Bruch's membrane

Transplantation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) following removal of choroidal neovascular membranes has been attempted in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, inability of transplanted RPE to initially attach and subsequently proliferate on Bruch's membrane may lead to failure of RPE transplants and poor visual outcomes. Integrin α6β4 functions as a receptor for laminin, the major component of Bruch's membrane, and mediates the stable attachment of most epithelial cells to the underlying basement membrane. To improve adhesion and proliferation of transplanted RPE on Bruch's membrane, we elucidated the roles of integrin α6β4 in RPE adhesion to extracellular matrix and investigated whether ex vivo gene transfer of integrin α6 and β4 in RPE could promote adhesion and proliferation of transplanted RPE on Bruch's membrane. The expression of integrin α6 and β4 mRNA and surface protein in ARPE-19 cells was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometric analysis. We generated point mutation in the ligand binding domain of integrin α6 and β4 by using site-directed mutagenesis and transfected these mutated constructs into ARPE-19 cells. Adhesion assay was used to determine the roles of integrin α6 and β4 in RPE adhesion to extracellular matrix. In addition, we transfected full-length α6 cDNA or β4 cDNA into ARPE-19 cells. The reattachment and proliferation ratios of α6-cDNA- or β4-cDNA-transfected ARPE-19 cells on different layers of Bruch's membrane were determined by cell adhesion and proliferation assays. Cell morphology and surface coverage were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy 7 days after plating on various layers of Bruch's membrane. We found that integrin α6 and β4 mRNA and proteins were constitutively expressed in ARPE-19 cells. Decreased endogenous integrin α6 and β4 expression by selective mutation of amino acid residues caused a significant reduction in adhesion of ARPE-19 cells to laminin 5. Modification of integrin expression by transfection of α6 cDNA into ARPE-19 cells induced a significant increase in cell adhesion to laminin 5, fibronectin, whereas transfection with β4 cDNA caused increased adhesion only to laminin 5. α6-cDNA-transfectants increased cell attachment and proliferation on all layers of Bruch's membrane, whereas β4-cDNA-transfectants enhanced adhesion and proliferation on basal lamina and inner collagenous layers. These data indicate that integrin α6 and β4 play a role in adhesion of ARPE-19 cells to extracellular matrix. Modification of integrin expression by ex vivo genetic manipulation in RPE might be an alternative strategy to increase the success of RPE transplantation.