Background and objectives: In multiple myeloma (MM), the mechanisms used by plasma cells to invade locally and metastasize are thought to be similar to those developed by solid tumors and include cell proliferation and secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) degrading enzymes following adhesion to ECM proteins. We studied these mechanisms in fresh bone marrow plasma cells of patients with MM after adhesion to the ECM proteins vitronectin (VN) and fibronectin (FN).
Design and methods: The ability of bone marrow plasma cells to adhere to VN and FN and the consequent formation of focal adhesion plaques on the cell surface, their composition and phosphorylation of several signal transduction proteins, cell proliferation and secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and -9 (MMP-9) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) were studied.
Results: Plasma cells adhered to immobilized VN and FN. Adhesion was fully prevented by neutralizing anti-avb3 integrin antibody. Integrin engagement caused aggregation of the plaques, which contained the b3 integrin subunit, some cytoskeletal proteins, tyrosine kinases, the Grb-2 adapter protein, and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. Free and immobilized VN and FN stimulated cell proliferation and the production and the release of uPA, and increased the release of the activated forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in an avb3 integrin-dependent manner.
Interpretation and conclusions: This ability of myeloma plasma cells to interact with VN and FN via avb3 integrin engagement suggests a novel mechanism for their invasion and spreading, since this interaction allows them to adhere to the substratum and enhances their proliferation and protease secretion.