Figure 3. ICOSL regulates αvβ3 integrin–dependent adhesion in human podocytes.

(A) Schematic representation of the protocol to measure relative cell adhesion levels in cultured human podocytes. Image analysis and quantification by high-content screening technology were described in Methods. (B) Phase-contrast microscopy images show that cultured human podocytes confer enhanced adhesion to ICOSL mediated by β3 integrin treated with Mn²⁺, but do not adhere on albumin (protein control). Increased adhesion levels were completely prevented by incubation with the integrin inhibitors, including cRGD peptide and anti-β3 integrin antibody. Scale bar 100 μm. (C) Quantification of the cell adhesion using the images in B. ICOSL induced cell adhesion to RGD-dependent β3 integrin on cultured podocytes. (D) Cell adhesion analysis of cultured podocytes plated on vitronectin. Data are shown as mean ± SD; ***P < 0.001; 1-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison test (C and D).