Deletion of integrin alpha 7 subunit does not aggravate the phenotype of laminin alpha 2 chain-deficient mice

作者：Gawlik Kinga I^*; Durbeej Madeleine

来源：Scientific Reports, 2015, 5(1): 13916.

DOI：10.1038/srep13916

Laminin-211 is a major constituent of the skeletal muscle basement membrane, exerting its biological functions by binding to cell surface receptors integrin alpha 7 beta 1 and dystroglycan (the latter is part of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex). The importance of these molecules for normal muscle function is underscored by the fact that their respective deficiency leads to different forms of muscular dystrophy with different severity in humans and animal models. We recently demonstrated that laminin alpha 2 chain and members of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex have overlapping but non-redundant roles despite being part of the same adhesion complex. To analyse whether laminin-211 and integrin alpha 7 subunit have non-redundant functions we generated mice deficient in laminin alpha 2 chain and integrin alpha 7 subunit (dy(3K)/itga7). We show that lack of both molecules did not exacerbate the severe phenotype of laminin alpha 2-chain deficient animals. They displayed the same weight, survival and dystrophic pattern of muscle biopsy, with similar degree of inflammation and fibrosis. These data suggest that laminin-211 and integrin alpha 7 beta 1 have intersecting roles in skeletal muscle.

• 出版日期2015-9-10