The tetraspanin CD63/lamp3 cycles between endocytic and secretory compartments in human endothelial cells

T Kobayashi, UM Vischer, C Rosnoblet… - Molecular biology of …, 2000 - Am Soc Cell Biol
T Kobayashi, UM Vischer, C Rosnoblet, C Lebrand, M Lindsay, RG Parton, EKO Kruithof…
Molecular biology of the cell, 2000Am Soc Cell Biol
In the present study, we show that in human endothelial cells the tetraspanin CD63/lamp3
distributes predominantly to the internal membranes of multivesicular–multilamellar late
endosomes, which contain the unique lipid lysobisphosphatidic acid. Some CD63/lamp3 is
also present in Weibel–Palade bodies, the characteristic secretory organelle of these cells.
We find that CD63/lamp3 molecules can be transported from late endosomes to Weibel–
Palade bodies and thus that CD63/lamp3 cycles between endocytic and biosynthetic …
In the present study, we show that in human endothelial cells the tetraspanin CD63/lamp3 distributes predominantly to the internal membranes of multivesicular–multilamellar late endosomes, which contain the unique lipid lysobisphosphatidic acid. Some CD63/lamp3 is also present in Weibel–Palade bodies, the characteristic secretory organelle of these cells. We find that CD63/lamp3 molecules can be transported from late endosomes to Weibel–Palade bodies and thus that CD63/lamp3 cycles between endocytic and biosynthetic compartments; however, movement of CD63/lamp3 is much slower than that of P-selectin, which is known to cycle between plasma membrane and Weibel–Palade bodies. When cells are treated with U18666A, a drug that mimics the Niemann-Pick type C syndrome, both proteins accumulate in late endosomes and fail to reach Weibel–Palade bodies efficiently, suggesting that P-selectin, like CD63/lamp3, cycles via late endosomes. Our data suggest that CD63/lamp3 partitions preferentially within late endosome internal membranes, thus causing its accumulation, and that this mechanism contributes to CD63/lamp3 retention in late endosomes; however, our data also indicate that the protein can eventually escape from these internal membranes and recycle toward Weibel–Palade bodies to be reused. Our observations thus uncover the existence of a selective trafficking route from late endosomes to Weibel–Palade bodies.
Am Soc Cell Biol