Role of leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 and very late antigen-4 in the adhesion and transmigration of c-myc-transfected B-lymphoblastoid cell lines across vascular endothelium

The presented study was designed to characterize the adhesive interaction of c-myc-transfected B-lymphoblastoid cell lines with resting and interleukin-1-activated endothelial cells. The transfected cell lines expressed lower levels of leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 compared with control non-transfected lines, while no reduction of expression of other surface structures, including the β1 integrin very late antigen-4, was observed. The transfected cell lines adhered to resting or activated endothelial cells less than control cells. Anti-CD18 monoclonal antibody inhibited binding of control cell lines but had a modest or no effect on adhesion of transfected cell lines. Anti-very late antigen-4 monoclonal antibody effectively inhibited binding of both transfected and control cell lines; this was more pronounced in the presence of anti-CD18, suggesting a cooperative interaction between these adhesion pathways. Transfected cell lines also had an impaired ability to penetrate endothelial cell monolayers in a transmigration assay. Our results indicate that activation of the c-myc oncogene in B-cells causes alterations in the adhesive interaction with endothelial cells. This may be relevant in the localization and malignant behavior of B-cell lymphomas carrying an activated c-myc oncogene.