Figure 4.

sCD146 interacts with integrin αvβ1. (A) Total RNA of hCMEC/D₃ cells was extracted to measure the mRNA expression of integrin subunits by Q-PCR. (B) Whole-cell lysates of hCMEC/D₃ cells were collected, and the protein expression levels of the integrin subunits were detected by western blot. (C) Co-IP assays show the association between sCD146 and integrin αvβ1 in hCMEC/D₃ cells. Protein levels were analyzed with anti-integrin αv and β1 antibodies. (D-E) Cell adhesion assay. The interaction between sCD146 and integrin αvβ1 was blocked by anti-integrin αv and β1 antibodies. Bar, 100 μm. *p<0.05; **p<0.01; and ***p<0.001.