β3 integrin phosphorylation is essential for Arp3 organization into leukocyte αvβ3-vitronectin adhesion contacts

Integrins play a pivotal role in self-regulated hematopoietic adhesion and migration. Leukocyte alphanubeta(3) integrin-mediated adhesion to vitronectin requires protein kinase C activation and phosphorylation on tyrosine 747 of the beta(3) cytoplasmic tail. We have previously shown that beta(3) phosphorylation is required for Rho activation. In this study, an antibody specific to phosphorylated beta(3) tyrosine 747 was used to localize phosphorylated alphanubeta(3) in vitronectin adhesive structures. Early adhesion contacts containing phosphorylated beta(3) preceded actin stress fiber formation. beta(3) phosphorylation decreased progressively throughout the course of adhesion coincident with the appearance of actin stress fibers. Time-dependent increases in colocalization of beta(3) with tyrosine 402 phosphorylated Pyk2 in similar adhesive structures was observed, providing evidence for downstream signaling complex formation. Surprisingly, Arp3 organized into similar adhesion contacts in cells expressing wild-type beta(3) but not in those expressing a nonphosphorylatable mutant of beta(3), suggesting that beta(3) phosphorylation is required for sequestration of Arp3 to adhesion complexes. Suppression of actin stress fiber formation by an inhibitor to Rho kinase disrupted Arp3 organization while prolonging beta(3) phosphorylation throughout the adhesion time course. These data confirm a requirement for beta(3) phosphorylation in alphanubeta(3)-mediated adhesion to vitronectin and suggest that beta(3) phosphorylation permits signaling complex assembly at the adhesion site necessary for actin stress fiber formation in leukocytes.