Shape and shift changes related to the function of leukocyte integrins LFA-1 and Mac-1

Integrin activity on leukocytes is controlled tightly, ensuring that ligand binding occurs only when leukocytes are in contact with their targets. For an integrinlike LFA-1, this ligand-binding activity comes about as a result of increased integrin clustering. Affinity regulation of integrins also plays a role, but the conformational changes giving rise to increased affinity appear to be secondary to clustering. Conformationally altered LFA-1 can be created artificially by deletion of the I domain, which is the key domain involved in ligand binding for many but not all integrins. Although I domain-deleted LFA-1 (DeltaI-LFA-1) cannot bind ligand, it is able to signal constitutively into the cell. One measure of this signaling activity is the ability of DeltaI-LFA-1 to activate beta1 integrins on the same T lymphocyte. Leukocytes use LFA-1 to migrate across the endothelium. Active beta1 integrins may be required subsequently to bind the matrix proteins encountered by leukocytes as they continue their voyage into the tissue interior.