SDF-1 and PDGF enhance αvβ5-mediated ERK activation and adhesion-independent growth of human pre-B cell lines:

CD23 acts through the αvβ5 integrin to promote growth of human pre-B cell lines in an adhesion-independent manner. αvβ5 is expressed on normal B-cell precursors in the bone marrow. Soluble CD23 (sCD23), short CD23-derived peptides containing the arg-lys-cys (RKC) motif recognized by αvβ5 and anti-αvβ5 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) all sustain growth of pre-B cell lines. The chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) regulates key processes during B-cell development. SDF-1 enhanced the growth-sustaining effect driven by ligation of αvβ5 with anti-αvβ5 MAb 15F-11, sCD23 or CD23-derived RKC-containing peptides. This effect was restricted to B-cell precursors and was specific to SDF-1