N-Glycosylation of ß4 Integrin Controls the Adhesion and Motility of Keratinocytes

α6ß4 integrin is an essential component of hemidesmosomes and modulates cell migration in wound healing and cancer invasion. To elucidate the role of N-glycosylation on ß4 integrin, we investigated keratinocyte adhesion and migration through the re-expression of wild-type or N-glycosylation-defective ß4 integrin (ΔNß4) in ß4 integrin null keratinocytes. N-glycosylation of ß4 integrin was not essential for the heterodimer formation of ß4 integrin with α6 integrin and its expression on a cell surface, but N-glycosylation was required for integrin-mediated cell adhesion and migration. Concomitantly with the reduction of ß4 integrin in the membrane microdomain, the intracellular signals of Akt and ERK activation were decreased in cells expressing ΔNß4 integrin. Forced cross-linking of ß4 integrin rescued the decreased ERK activation in ΔNß4 integrin-expressing cells to a similar extent in wild-type ß4 integrin-expressing cells. Surprisingly, compared with cells expressing wild-type ß4 integrin, an alternation in N-glycan structures expressed on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and the induction of a stronger association between EGFR and ß4 integrin were observed in ΔNß4 integrin-expressing cells. These results clearly demonstrated that N-glycosylation on ß4 integrin plays an essential role in keratinocyte cellular function by allowing the appropriate complex formation on cell surfaces

Study of Resilience in Female College Adolescents and Young Adults: Tough Times Don’t Last, Tough People Do

This study is part of a multicentric youth project conducted by Association of Adolescent and Child Care in India (AACCI).We examined resilience and its association with demographic variables like age, sibling status, academic course, engagementin extracurricular activities, perceived internet/social media usage and dependence, substance use and perception of controlover one’s life. We used a cross-sectional design with a sample of 17- to 21-year-old female college students from Delhi. Wefound that students who perceived control over their lives had high total scores on resilience measures. Students who usedsocial media had higher total and relational resilience than those who did not use social media. Students who did notuse social media had higher individual resilience. Those who did not see themselves as dependent on social media hadhigher total resilience and relational resilience. Those who did not see themselves as dependent on the internet had higherrelational resilience. There were no significant relationships between resilience and the other demographic variables. Resultsfrom the current study shed light on factors contributing to resilience among adolescents. We can use these findings todevelop training programs that promote adolescent well-bein