Regulation of cell adhesion to collagen via β1 integrins is dependent on interactions of filamin A with vimentin and protein kinase C epsilon

Cell adhesion and spreading on collagen, which are essential processes for development and wound healing in mammals, are mediated by β1 integrins and the actin and intermediate filament cytoskeletons. The mechanisms by which these separate cytoskeletal systems interact to regulate β1 integrins and cell spreading are poorly defined. We previously reported that the actin cross-linking protein filamin A binds the intermediate filament protein vimentin and that these two proteins co-regulate cell spreading. Here we used deletional mutants of filamin A to define filamin A–vimentin interactions and the subsequent phosphorylation and re-distribution of vimentin during cell spreading on collagen. Imaging of fixed and live cell preparations showed that phosphorylated vimentin is translocated to the cell membrane during spreading. Knockdown of filamin A inhibited cell spreading and the phosphorylation and re-distribution of vimentin. Knockdown of filamin A and/or vimentin reduced the cell surface expression and activation of β1 integrins, as indicated by immunoblotting of plasma membrane-associated proteins and shear force assays. In vitro pull-down assays using filamin A mutants showed that both vimentin and protein kinase Cɛ bind to repeats 1–8 of filamin A. Reconstitution of filamin-A-deficient cells with full-length filamin A or filamin A repeats 1–8 restored cell spreading, vimentin phosphorylation, and the cell surface expression of β1 integrins. We conclude that the binding of filamin A to vimentin and protein kinase Cε is an essential regulatory step for the trafficking and activation of β1 integrins and cell spreading on collagen.