Tetraspanins are localized at motility-related structures and involved in normal human keratinocyte wound healing migration

We have described previously that beta 1 integrins, which mediate keratinocyte cell adhesion and migration, are in ligand-occupied conformation at the basal surface but not at the lateral and apical surfaces of keratinocytes. This led us to study the cellular localization and function of tetraspanin molecules, which have been postulated to modulate integrin activity. We found that CD9 and CD81 are highly expressed by keratinocytes clearly delineating filopodia at lateral and apical surfaces. CD63 and CD151 are largely expressed in the intracellular compartment, although some membrane expression is observed. We found accumulation of CD9, CD81, and CD151 together with alpha 3 and beta 1 integrins at intercellular junctions. In low calcium medium, this intercellular space is crossed by a zipper of filopodia enriched in alpha 3 beta 1 and tetraspanin proteins. Interestingly, the expression of CD9, CD81, and beta 1 and alpha 3 integrins was detected in the footprints and rippings of motile keratinocytes, suggesting their role in both adhesion to extracellular matrix and keratinocyte motility. beta 1 integrins were only partially activated in the rips, whereas cytoskeleton-linking proteins such as talin were completely absent. On the other hand, antitetraspanin antibodies did not stain focal adhesions, which contain talin. The involvement of tetraspanins in keratinocyte motility was assessed in a wound healing migration assay. Inhibition of cell migration was observed with antibodies to CD9, CD81, beta 1, and alpha 3, and, to a lesser extent, to CD151. Together these results indicate that tetraspanin-integrin complexes might be involved in transient adhesion and integrin recycling during keratinocyte migration, as well as in intercellular recognition.