The interaction of materials with biological systems is of critical importance to a vast number of applications from medical implants, tissue engineering scaffolds, blood-contacting devices, cell-culture products, as well as many other products in industries as diverse as agriculture. This thesis describes a method for the modification of biomaterial surfaces and the generation of tissue engineering scaffolds that utilises the self assembly of poly (styrene)-block-poly (ethylene oxide) (PS-PEO) block copolymers. Block copolymers consist of alternating segments of two or more chemically distinct polymers. The salient feature of these materials is their ability to self organise into a wide range of micro-phase separated structures generating patterned surfaces that have domain sizes in the order of 10-100nm. Further, it is also possible to specifically functionalise only one segment of the block copolymer, providing a means to precisely locate specific biological signals within the 10-100nm domains of a nano-patterned surface, formed via the programmed micro-phase separation of the block copolymer system. The density and spatial location of signalling molecules can be controlled by altering several variables, such as block length, block asymmetry, as well as processing parameters, providing the potential to authentically emulate the cellular micro to nano-environment and thus greatly improving on existing biomaterial and tissue engineering technologies. This thesis achieved several aims as outlined below; Developed methods to control the self-assembly of PS-PEO block copolymers and generate nano-patterned surfaces and scaffolds with utility for biomaterials applications. PS-PEO diblock copolymers were blended with polystyrene (PS) homopolymer and spin cast, resulting in the rapid self-assembly of vertically oriented PEO cylinders in a matrix of PS. Due to the kinetically constrained phase-separation of the system, increasing addition of homopolymer is shown to reduce the diameter of the PEO domains. This outcome provides a simple method that requires the adjustment of a single variable to tune the size of vertically oriented PEO domains between 10-100nm. Polymeric scaffolds for tissue engineering were manufactured via a method that combines macro-scale temperature induced phase separation with micro-phase separation of block copolymers. The phase behaviour of these polymer-solvent systems is described, and potential mechanisms leading to this spectacular structure formation are presented. The result is highly porous scaffolds with surfaces comprised of nano-scale self-assembled block copolymer domains, representing a significant advance in currently available technologies. Characterised the properties of these unique nano-structured materials as well as their interaction with proteinaceous fluids and cells. Nano-patterned PS-PEO self-assembled surfaces showed a significant reduction in protein adsorption compared to control PS surfaces. The adhesion of NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells was shown to be significantly affected by the surface coverage of PEO nano-domains formed by copolymer self-assembly. These nano-islands, when presented at high number density (almost 1000 domains per square micron), were shown to completely prevent cellular attachment, even though small amounts of protein were able to bind to the surface. In order to understand the mechanism by which these surfaces resisted protein and cellular adsorption we utilised neutron reflection to study their solvation and swelling properties. The results indicate that the PEO domains are highly solvated in water; however, the PEO chains do not extend into the solvent but remain in their isolated domains. The data supports growing evidence that the key mechanism by which PEO prevents protein adsorption is the blocking of protein adsorption sites. Control the nano-scale presentation of cellular adhesion and other biological molecules via the self-assembly of functionalised PS-PEO block copolymers Precise control over the nano-scale presentation of adhesion molecules and other biological factors represents a new frontier for biomaterials science. Recently, the control of integrin spacing and cellular shape has been shown to affect fundamental biological processes, including differentiation and apoptosis. We present the self-assembly of maleimide functionalised PS-PEO copolymers as a simple, yet highly precise method for controlling the position of cellular adhesion molecules. By controlling the phase separation of the functional PS-PEO block copolymer we alter the nano-scale (on PEO islands of 8-14 nm in size) presentation of the adhesion peptide, GRGDS, decreasing lateral spacing from 62 nm to 44 nm and increasing the number density from ~ 450 to ~ 900 islands per um2. The results indicate that the spreading of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts increases as the spacing between islands of RGD binding peptides decreases. Further, the same functional PS-PEO surfaces were utilised to immobilise poly-histidine tagged proteins and ECM fragments. The technologies developed in this thesis aim to improve on several weaknesses of existing biomaterials, in particular, directing cellular behaviour on surfaces, and within tissue engineering scaffolds, but also, on the prevention of fouling of biomaterials via non-specific protein adsorption. The application of block copolymer self-assembly for biomaterial and tissue engineering systems described in this thesis has great potential as a platform technology for the investigation of fundamental cell-surface and protein-surface interactions as well as for use in existing and emerging biomedical applications.

<p>Basement membranes are thin extracellular sheets that surround muscle, fat and peripheral nerve cells and underlay epithelial and endothelial cells. Laminins are one of the main protein families of these matrices. Integrins and dystroglycan are receptors for laminins, connecting cells to basement membranes. Each laminin consists of three different chains, (α, β, γ). Laminin-1 (α1β1γ1) was the first laminin to be found and is the most frequently studied. Despite this, it was unclear where its α1 chain was expressed. A restricted distribution of the α1 chain in the adult epithelial basement membranes was demonstrated in the present study. In contrast, dystroglycan was found to have a much broader distribution. Dystroglycan is an important receptor for α2-laminins in muscle, but binds also α1-laminins. The more ubiquitous α5-laminins were also shown to bind dystroglycan, but with distinctly lower affinity than α1- and α2- laminins. </p><p>The biological roles of different laminin isoforms have been investigated. Differences were found in the capacity of various tested laminins to promote epithelial cell adhesion. The α5-laminins were potent adhesive substrates, a property shown to be dependent on α3 and α6 integrins. Each receptor alone could promote efficient epithelial cell adhesion to α5-laminins. Yet, only α6 integrin and in particular the α6A cytoplasmic splice variant could be linked to laminin-mediated activation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) pathway. Attachment to either α1- or α5-laminins activated extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) in cells expressing the integrin α6A variant, but not in cells expressing α6B. A new role for dystroglycan as a suppressor of this activation was demonstrated. Dystroglycan antibodies, or recombinant fragments with high affinity for dystroglycan, decreased ERK activation induced by integrin α6 antibodies. Integrin αvβ3 was identified as a novel co-receptor for α5-laminin trimers. Cell attachment to α5-laminins was found to facilitate growth factor induced cell proliferation. This proliferation could be blocked by antibodies against integrin αvβ3 or by an inhibitor of the MEK/ERK pathway. Therefore, integrin αvβ3 binding to α5-laminins could be of biological significance.</p>

<p>The formation and maintenance of tissues in multicellular animals are crucially dependent on cellular interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM). Two different studies on such interactions are presented herein.</p><p>Studies on expression of laminins in normal and dystrophic skeletal muscle, clarified a much debated issue regarding discrepancies seen for laminin α1-chain expression between human and mouse tissues. Lack of laminin α1-chain expression was verified in both mouse and human skeletal muscle. Furthermore, the earlier discrepancies seen for laminin α1-chain expression was explained by showing that an antibody-reagent, commonly used in human studies, recognised the laminin α5-chain rather than the laminin α1-chain</p><p>The integrin α11-chain (forming α11β1 integrin) is the latest addition to the integrin receptor family, and belongs to the I domain-containing group of integrin α-chains. Previous studies had shown that α11β1 is a collagen receptor. In the present study, the <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> functions of the α11-chain were further characterised. Distribution studies on embryonic human and mouse tissues showed that the α11-chain was expressed on mesenchymal cells in the developing tendon, perichondrium, intervertebral disc, and cornea. The interactions of α11β1 integrin with collagen type I and IV were studied <i>in vitro</i>. The α11β1 bound to these collagens in a manner similar to integrin α2β1 (with collagen type I being the preferred ligand for α11β1). Furthermore, α11β1 was shown to mediate migration on collagen type I coated surfaces, and to mediate contraction of collagen type I gels. The <i>in vivo</i> functions of the α11-chain were investigated by the generation of integrin α11-chain null-mice, using gene targeted disruption of the itga11 in embryonic stem cells. Two independent lines of mice lacking α11 protein were generated. Phenotypic analysis of these mice indicated a role for α11β1 in the formation of the musculoskeletal system.</p>

Basement membranes are thin extracellular sheets that surround muscle, fat and peripheral nerve cells and underlay epithelial and endothelial cells. Laminins are one of the main protein families of these matrices. Integrins and dystroglycan are receptors for laminins, connecting cells to basement membranes. Each laminin consists of three different chains, (α, β, γ). Laminin-1 (α1β1γ1) was the first laminin to be found and is the most frequently studied. Despite this, it was unclear where its α1 chain was expressed. A restricted distribution of the α1 chain in the adult epithelial basement membranes was demonstrated in the present study. In contrast, dystroglycan was found to have a much broader distribution. Dystroglycan is an important receptor for α2-laminins in muscle, but binds also α1-laminins. The more ubiquitous α5-laminins were also shown to bind dystroglycan, but with distinctly lower affinity than α1- and α2- laminins. The biological roles of different laminin isoforms have been investigated. Differences were found in the capacity of various tested laminins to promote epithelial cell adhesion. The α5-laminins were potent adhesive substrates, a property shown to be dependent on α3 and α6 integrins. Each receptor alone could promote efficient epithelial cell adhesion to α5-laminins. Yet, only α6 integrin and in particular the α6A cytoplasmic splice variant could be linked to laminin-mediated activation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) pathway. Attachment to either α1- or α5-laminins activated extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) in cells expressing the integrin α6A variant, but not in cells expressing α6B. A new role for dystroglycan as a suppressor of this activation was demonstrated. Dystroglycan antibodies, or recombinant fragments with high affinity for dystroglycan, decreased ERK activation induced by integrin α6 antibodies. Integrin αvβ3 was identified as a novel co-receptor for α5-laminin trimers. Cell attachment to α5-laminins was found to facilitate growth factor induced cell proliferation. This proliferation could be blocked by antibodies against integrin αvβ3 or by an inhibitor of the MEK/ERK pathway. Therefore, integrin αvβ3 binding to α5-laminins could be of biological significance.

The formation and maintenance of tissues in multicellular animals are crucially dependent on cellular interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM). Two different studies on such interactions are presented herein. Studies on expression of laminins in normal and dystrophic skeletal muscle, clarified a much debated issue regarding discrepancies seen for laminin α1-chain expression between human and mouse tissues. Lack of laminin α1-chain expression was verified in both mouse and human skeletal muscle. Furthermore, the earlier discrepancies seen for laminin α1-chain expression was explained by showing that an antibody-reagent, commonly used in human studies, recognised the laminin α5-chain rather than the laminin α1-chain The integrin α11-chain (forming α11β1 integrin) is the latest addition to the integrin receptor family, and belongs to the I domain-containing group of integrin α-chains. Previous studies had shown that α11β1 is a collagen receptor. In the present study, the in vitro and in vivo functions of the α11-chain were further characterised. Distribution studies on embryonic human and mouse tissues showed that the α11-chain was expressed on mesenchymal cells in the developing tendon, perichondrium, intervertebral disc, and cornea. The interactions of α11β1 integrin with collagen type I and IV were studied in vitro. The α11β1 bound to these collagens in a manner similar to integrin α2β1 (with collagen type I being the preferred ligand for α11β1). Furthermore, α11β1 was shown to mediate migration on collagen type I coated surfaces, and to mediate contraction of collagen type I gels. The in vivo functions of the α11-chain were investigated by the generation of integrin α11-chain null-mice, using gene targeted disruption of the itga11 in embryonic stem cells. Two independent lines of mice lacking α11 protein were generated. Phenotypic analysis of these mice indicated a role for α11β1 in the formation of the musculoskeletal system.

Integrins are a large family of membrane-spanning heterodimeric (αβ) receptors that bind to ligands on other cells or to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. These receptors mediate bidirectional signaling over the cell membrane to induce signaling cascades mediating functions as cell adhesion, spreading and migration. This signaling takes place at cell-matrix adhesions, which are sites where clustered and ligand-bound integrins connect to and mediate stabilization of the actin cytoskeleton, and induce signaling cascades. Integrins have a short cytoplasmic tail that is crucial for the bidirectional signaling, and the β1-integrin subunit exists in five splice variants only differing in the membrane-distal part of the cytoplasmic tail. This region of the almost ubiquitously expressed β1-integrin, β1A, contains two protein tyrosine motifs (NPXYs) interspaced with a threonine-rich region, while this region of the β1B splice variant is completely different and lacks known motifs. In contrast to the β1A-integrin, the β1B variant cannot mediate cell-matrix adhesion formation following binding to ECM ligands. The enteropathogenic bacterium Yersinia pseudotuberculosis binds to β1-integrins on the host cell with invasin, and this stimulates uptake of the bacterium. However, upon binding to the host cell, pathogenic Yersinia strains inject virulence effectors that block uptake. One effector responsible for the blocking is a tyrosine phosphatase, YopH. We identified the targets for this effector in the macrophage-like cell line J774A.1, which represent a professional phagocyte and thus is the likely target cell for the antiphagocytic effect of Yersinia. Two YopH target proteins were p130Cas and ADAP, of which the latter interestingly is an adapter protein specifically expressed in hematopoietic cells. ADAP has previously been implicated to participate in Fc-receptor-mediated phagocytosis and in communication between T-cell receptors and integrins. We also studied the importance of the cytoplasmic tail of β1-integrin for uptake of Yersinia. The GD25 cell line, which is a fibroblast-like cell line that lacks endogenous β1-integrins, was used together with GD25 cells transfected with β1B, β1Α or cytoplasmic tail mutants of β1A. These studies revealed that β1B-integrins could bind to invasin but not mediate uptake of Yersinia, while β1A both bound to invasin and mediated uptake. The first NPXY motif (unphosphorylated) and the double-threonines of the unique part of β1A were important for the ability of integrin to mediate uptake of Yersinia. These studies lead to the interesting finding that, when these cells were allowed to spread on invasin, those that expressed β1A spread as normal fibroblasts while for β1B-integrin-expressing cells, only finger-like protrusions of filopodia were formed. This provided us with a tool to study formation of filopodia without interference of the tightly linked process of lamellipodia formation. Initially, proteins that localized to the tip complex of these filopodia were identified. These were talin, VASP and interestingly the p130Cas-Crk-DOCK180 scaffold, while FAK, paxillin and vinculin were absent. In addition, VASP, p130Cas and Crk were shown to be important for the filopodia formation in GD25β1B. Further, the role of the actin motor myosin X, which previously has been implicated in formation of filopodia, was studied in the GD25Β1B cells and it was shown that myosin X not was important for filopodia formation, but that it recruited FAK and vinculin to the tip complexes of filopodia.

Background: Among the common malignancies, pancreatic cancer has the shortest long-term survival. The aggressive, rapid, and infiltrative growth pattern of pancreatic cancer, together with the lack of specific symptoms, often leads to late diagnosis. Metastases are frequently found at the time of diagnosis, which prevents curative surgical treatment. Good tumor markers would enable early detection, thus improving the prognosis. Unfortunately, no such markers are available in the clinic. The tumor stroma is defined as the non-malignant cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) of a cancer. Pancreatic cancer is characterized by an abundant tumor stroma, rich in ECM proteins such as collagens, which have been shown to play important roles in tumor progression. Furthermore, pancreatic cancer cells produce large quantities of ECM proteins, especially the basement membrane (BM) protein type IV collagen. All epithelial cells are anchored to a BM, which must be degraded in order for an in situ cancer to become invasive. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes involved in BM degradation. In this thesis, the tumor stroma of pancreatic cancer is studied, focusing on the BM proteins type IV and type XVIII collagen, with the aim to clarify if the stroma could be a source of novel tumor markers for this form of cancer. Additionally, the role of type IV collagen produced by the cancer cells is studied. Methods: Expression patterns of type IV and type XVIII collagen, MMPs involved in collagen degradation, and collagen receptors (integrins) were studied by immunoflourescence in both normal and pancreatic cancer tissue, and in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Circulating plasma levels of type IV and type XVIII collagen and conventional tumor markers (TPS, Ca 19-9, CEA and Ca 125) were measured in controls and pancreatic cancer patients at the time of diagnosis and after treatment. The role of cancer cell produced type IV collagen was studied in human pancreatic cancer cell lines by functional blocking of integrin receptors (integrin a1, a2 and b1) and integrin-binding sites on type IV collagen, and by siRNA-induced down-regulation of type IV collagen synthesis. Proliferation was analyzed by a luminescence based cell viability assay, migration by time-lapse microscopy, and apoptosis by M30-neoepitope detection. Results: MMPs involved in BM degradation were upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissue. The expression of type XVIII collagen shifted from a general BM expression pattern in normal tissue, to mainly being found in the tumor vasculature in pancreatic cancer. Type IV collagen, on the other hand, remained highly expressed in the vicinity of the cancer cells. The a1, a2, and b1 integrin receptors were highly expressed at the cancer cell surface. Both down-regulation of type IV collagen synthesis and blocking the integrin/type IV collagen interaction decreased cell proliferation and migration. The proliferative capacity was rescued by the addition of exogenous type IV collagen. Furthermore, the circulating levels of both type IV and type XVIII collagen were increased in pancreatic cancer patients at the time of diagnosis compared to controls. After treatment, the levels were normalized for type XVIII collagen, whereas the levels of type IV collagen remained high after surgery. High postoperative levels of type IV collagen were associated with short overall survival. A similar association to short survival was found for preoperative type XVIII collagen levels. No such associations to survival could be detected for the conventional markers.   Conclusion: The results of this thesis show that type IV and type XVIII collagens can serve as tumor markers for pancreatic cancer with advantages compared to conventionally used markers. Additionally, evidence is provided of an autocrine loop, involving type IV collagen and its integrin receptors, with importance for retaining a proliferative and migratory phenotype in pancreatic cancer cells.

Nanoparticles possess unique characteristics that make them well suited for molecular imaging. Particles can be synthesized in a systematic fashion with tight control over diameter and surface chemistry. Contrary to existing gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents, nanoparticle MRI contrast agents circulate in the blood for long periods of time, offer higher sensitivity, and exhibit little known toxicity. The qualities of nanoparticles are also well suited to the design of PET probes. Because of their large surface area nanoparticles can be radiolabeled at high specific activity, increasing the sensitivity of detection as well as the payload of therapeutic isotopes. The work presented here focuses on the development and biological application of novel radiolabeled magnetic nanoparticles for multimodal PET/MRI imaging. The nanoparticle probes contained crystalline iron oxide cores capable of producing strong MRI contrast. Cores were coated with either a micelle composed of functionalized PEGylated lipids, or a cross-linked dextran shell modified with heterobifuntional PEG polymers. For PET imaging, magnetic nanoparticles were labeled with the radionuclide 64Cu. Copper‐64 is a cyclotron produced positron emitter used for PET imaging. With a 12.7 hour half-life, 64Cu can be used to image particles in vivo for up to 48 hr and can be used to evaluate ex vivo biodistribution for 72 hours. 64Cu nuclides also undergo β‐ decay, making it a useful isotope for radiotherapy. Nanoparticles were labeled with 64Cu and PET and MRI contrast and evaluated using phantoms. Pharmacokinetic information was measured using in vivo small animal PET/CT and ex vivo biodistribution at multiple time points. Particles were targeted to the angiogenesis marker αvβ3 integrin using a cyclized arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide with high affinity for αvβ3 and tested in two tumor models. A unilateral tumor model was constructed using the αvβ3-positive U87MG glioblastoma line, and a bilateral model was constructed using the M21 (αvβ3 positive) and M21L (αvβ3 negative) melanoma lines. In vivo PET/CT and MRI showed that targeted nanoparticles produced both PET and MRI contrast in tumors. In conclusion, we report the development of magnetic nanoparticles for dual‐PET/MR imaging. These findings provide insight into the design and development of future multimodality PET/MRI probes.

TGF-β isoforms are important signalling molecules in wound repair in the skin. Transforming growth factor β3 (TGF-β3) has been implicated in scarless healing. In both animal and human models the application of exogenous TGF-β3 causes a reduction in the inflammatory response and improves the architecture of the neodermis. Research into the influence of TGF-β on scarring has tended to focus on fibroblasts. However, keratinocytes play a major role in scarring both indirectly, as a result of their influence over the behaviour of fibroblasts and also by directly influencing wound contraction. Thus, experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of TGF-β3 on the behaviours of a keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Incubation with TGF-β3 increased cell spreading and appeared to reduce cell-surface contacts indicated by both SPR imaging and a detachment assay. TGF-β3 also caused a decreased cell alignment response to microcontact printed protein patterns, in part due to the deposition of laminin which is associated with the TGF-β induced cell migration. There is evidence that TGF-β isoforms differentially influence the outcome of wound healing. Similar to the results produce following addition of exogenous TGF-β3, the neutralisation of TGF-β1 and 2 has been shown to reduce scar formation in the adult wounds. During reepithelialisation keratinocytes experience a dynamic environment. Both extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors influence the progression of wound repair which includes both cell migration and proliferation. Few studies have examined collective cell behaviour in response to TGF-β isoforms and ECM coated substrates. Thus both wound closure and cell proliferation assays were conducted for different ECM proteins fibronectin, laminin and collagen type I and for TGF-β1, 2 and 3. Rates of wound closure were significantly reduced on laminin coated substrates while cell proliferation rates were increased. TGF-β2 and 3 induced significant increases in wound closure rates. This appeared to correspond with an increase in the number of cells independently migrating out from the wound margins. Only TGF-β3 caused a significant decrease in cell proliferation over a 4 day period. Laminin332 deposition is central to the reepithelialisation process and is known to be induced in response to TGF-β. Thus experiments were carried out to investigate HaCaT cell laminin332 deposition in response to TGF-β1, 2 and 3. Both an immunofluorescence staining technique and an ELISA based semi-quantification method was used. Following 4 day incubation all TGF-β isoforms significantly increased laminin332 deposition; however TGF-β2 and 3 caused the most significant increases. Integrin receptors enable cell-matrix interactions during wound repair. TGF-β is known to influence the expression of integrin subunits. Thus, experiments were carried out to compare the influence of each TGF-β isoform on the expression of subunits β3, β2, β5, β1 and β4. All TGF-β isoforms significantly increased all subunit expression. TGF-β3 caused the most significant increase in β4 and both TGF-β2 and 3 caused the most significant increase in β2. While there were differences in cell responses to each isoforms, TGF-β3 did not stand out from the other two isoforms. Interestingly, TGF-β2 shared more similarities with TGF-β3 than it did with TGF-β1, in its role in enhancing wound closure and LN332 deposition. These comparative studies have shown that differences exist in the way TGF-β isoforms influence HaCaT cell behaviour, namely migration, laminin deposition and integrin expression.

Το ετεροτριμερές πρωτεϊνικό σύμπλεγμα IPP (ILK-PINCH-Parvin) εντοπίζεται στις εστιακές συνδέσεις και ρυθμίζει την σηματοδότηση από την εξωκυττάρια ουσία μέσω ιντεγκρινών και αυξητικών παραγόντων, αλληλεπιδρώντας με τον κυτταροσκελετό ακτίνης και με ποικίλες σηματοδοτικές οδούς. Οι πρωτεΐνες του συμπλεγματος IPP ελέγχουν σημαντικές κυτταρικές λειτουργίες όπως ο πολλαπλασιασμός, η επιβίωση, η κυτταρική κίνηση-μετανάστευση και ενέχονται σημαντικά στην καρκινογένεση (Legate et al., 2006). Συγκεκριμένα η πρωτεΐνη ILK (integrin-linked kinase) έχει συσχετιστεί με την εξέλιξη-προαγωγή του όγκου και δυσμενή πρόγνωση στο μη μικροκυτταρικό καρκίνωμα του πνεύμονα (Ζhao et al., 2013). Η πρωτεΐνη Ras supressor protein 1 (Rsu-1), γνωστή για την ογκοκατασταλτική της δράση και την συμμετοχή της στη σηματοδοτική οδό του ογκογονιδίου Ras, πρόσφατα βρέθηκε οτι αλληλεπιδρά με την πρωτεΐνη PINCH του ΙPP συμπλέγματος και μέσω αυτής της αλληλεπίδρασης ρυθμίζει διεργασίες όπως η κυτταρική μετανάστευση και διήθηση(Gonzalez-Nieves et al., 2013). Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης είναι η διερεύνηση του ρόλου του IPP συμπλέγματος και της πρωτεΐνης Rsu-1 στο μη μικροκυτταρικό καρκίνωμα του πνεύμονα στον άνθρωπο καθώς και της συμμετοχής του ΙPP συμπλόκου στην σηματοδότηση από το ογκογονιδίο Ras. Για το σκοπό αυτό μελετάται η πρωτεϊνική έκφραση των ILK, PINCH, α-Parvin, β- Parvin και Rsu-1 1) σε ιστικά δείγματα μη-μικροκυτταρικού καρκινώματος του πνεύμονα σε σχέση με κλινικοπαθολογοανατομικές παραμέτρους της νόσου και 2) σε καρκινικές κυτταρικές σειρές με διαφορετικά επίπεδα ενεργοποίησης της Ras σηματοδότησης. Για τα στοιχεία του ΙΡΡ συμπλέγματος παρατηρήθηκε αυξημένη ανοσοϊστοχημική έκφραση ενώ για την πρωτεΐνη Rsu1 βρέθηκε μειωμένη στα μη μικροκυτταρικά καρκινώματα του πνεύμονα σε σχέση με το μη νεοπλασματικό παρέγχυμα του πνεύμονα. Η έκφραση των ILK και PARVA ήταν σημαντικά υψηλότερη στα χαμηλής διαφοροποίησης νεοπλάσματα και σε όγκους προχωρημένου pT αντίστοιχα. Η έκφραση της πρωτεΐνης PINCH σχετίστηκε στατιστικώς σημαντικά με την παρουσία λεμφαδενικών μεταστάσεων. Δεν παρατηρήθηκε εξάρτηση της πρωτεϊνικής έκφρασης των Rsu-1 και PINCH από τη σηματοδοτική οδό Ras. Τα αποτελέσματα υποστηρίζουν ότι η υπερέκφραση των στοιχείων του ΙΡΡ συμπλέγματος και η μειωμένη έκφραση του Rsu1 ενέχονται στην παθογένεια του καρκίνου του πνεύμονα. / The integrin-linked kinase (ILK)-PINCH-parvin (IPP) complex at integrin adhesion sites is a critical regulator of cell migration, invasion and metastasis. Deregulation of the IPP complex has been implicated in human carcinogenesis (Legate et al, 2006). Recent observations suggest that RSU-1, a protein first identified as a suppressor of v-Ras mediated cell transformation is a PINCH-binding partner that regulates PINCH mediated adhesion and migration (Gonzalez-Nieves et al., 2013). This study aims to evaluate the expression of the IPP complex and RSU-1 in human non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Protein expression of ILK, PINCH, alpha-parvin, beta-parvin and RSU-1 in relation to clinicopathological parameters was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 82 FFPE tissue samples of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). All components of the IPP complex were overexpressed while RSU-1 was downregulated in lung cancer cells compared to non-neoplastic lung parenchyma. ILK and alpha-parvin expression was significantly higher in high grade (p=0.002) and high pT (p=0.047) tumors respectively. Expression of PINCH associated significantly with lymph node metastasis (p=0.045). Our results suggest that overexpression of the IPP complex and downregulation of RSU-1 may be implicated in lung carcinogenesis.