Vitronectin: A Versatile Glycoprotein Driving Advances in Biomedical Research
At Innovative Research, we are committed to producing high-quality human proteins that advance scientific discovery. Among our unique offerings is biologically active Vitronectin - available in both monomeric and multimeric forms - a versatile glycoprotein that plays vital roles in cellular signaling, tissue remodeling, and disease progression.
We are one of the few suppliers able to produce biologically active Vitronectin, a capability we acquired from a specialized Wisconsin laboratory whose principal investigator has since retired. This knowledge transfer allowed us to preserve and refine a rare protein production method. Recently, we generated a new batch of both monomeric and multimeric Vitronectin, and we’re excited to share insights into its biology, applications, and recent research discoveries.
Vitronectin is a multifunctional glycoprotein predominantly found in human plasma and the extracellular matrix (ECM). It serves as a critical mediator in a wide array of physiological processes, including cell adhesion, spreading, wound healing, tissue remodeling, and regulation of the complement cascade. Additionally, Vitronectin plays a central role in fibrinolysis through its interaction with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Its ability to bind integrins, heparin, collagen, and the urokinase receptor (uPAR) enables it to orchestrate complex biological signaling pathways in both normal and disease states.
Structurally, Vitronectin exists in two distinct forms. The Monomeric Vitronectin, a 75 kDa native form, circulates in plasma in a compact and relatively inactive conformation. By contrast, Multimeric Vitronectin forms through conformational changes or interactions with ECM components, revealing cryptic binding sites that enhance its adhesive and signaling properties. This monomer-to-multimer transition acts as a molecular switch, often associated with pathological processes such as cancer progression and fibrosis.
In modern biomedical research, Vitronectin has emerged as an important focus across multiple disease areas. In cancer, multimeric Vitronectin supports tumor cell adhesion, migration, and resistance to apoptosis, largely through its interactions with integrins and uPAR. Its role in metastasis has made it a target of interest for therapeutic interventions. In fibrotic conditions, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and liver cirrhosis, Vitronectin accumulates within the ECM, contributing to tissue stiffening and chronic inflammation. Cardiovascular studies have linked elevated Vitronectin levels to atherosclerosis and thrombosis, reflecting its involvement in clotting and vascular remodeling.
Beyond pathology, recombinant human Vitronectin is widely used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. It serves as a xeno-free substrate ideal for supporting the culture of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), helping to maintain pluripotency without animal-derived components.
One of our scientists purifying Vitronectin in the lab.
Purifying Vitronectin in biologically active forms presents a unique challenge due to its conformational sensitivity and tendency to aggregate. Monomeric Vitronectin, which we isolate from human plasma, is highly soluble, uniform, and free of aggregates, making it ideal for functional assays such as PAI-1 stabilization, receptor-binding studies with integrins and uPAR, complement inhibition, and heparin or glycosaminoglycan interaction assays. Meanwhile, Multimeric Vitronectin more closely resembles ECM-associated form promoting cell adhesion and migration. It provides researchers with a model that better reflects in vivo signaling environments, especially in studies of disease progression.
Recent research underscores Vitronectin’s pivotal role in disease. A 2013 study in Thrombosis and Hemostasis demonstrated that the interaction between Vitronectin and uPAR directly drives tumor growth, with xenograft models demonstrating accelerated tumor development in the presence of Vitronectin. More recently, a 2024 study in Frontiers in Oncology revealed that Vitronectin promotes cervical cancer cell proliferation and metastasis through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), reinforcing its importance as a tumor-promoting factor. In cardiovascular and hemostatic research, a seminal 2003 Nature Structural & Molecular Biology study elucidated how Vitronectin binds and stabilizes PAI-1, extending its lifetime and influencing both fibrinolysis and cell migration—mechanisms linked to thrombosis and cancer progression alike.
By offering both monomeric and multimeric Vitronectin, Innovative Research provides scientists with essential tools to explore this complex glycoprotein’s role in health and disease. Whether used in cancer biology, fibrosis studies, cardiovascular research, or tissue engineering, our Vitronectin products enable the discovery of new therapeutic strategies while keeping a rare and valuable protein accessible to the scientific community.
References:
- Preissner KT. Structure and biological role of vitronectin. Annu Rev Cell Biol. 1991;7:275–310. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.cb.07.110191.001423
- Stockmann A, Hess S, Declerck P, Timpl R, Preissner KT. Multimeric vitronectin. Identification and characterization of conformation-dependent self-association of the adhesive protein. J Biol Chem. 1993 Oct 25;268(30):22874-82. PMID: 7693680. https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(18)41608-0/pdf
- Schvartz I, Seger D, Shaltiel S. Vitronectin. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 1999 May;31(5):539-44. doi: 10.1016/s1357-2725(99)00005-9. PMID: 10399314. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10399314/
- López-Carrasco A, Parra-Haro K, Vieco-Martí I, Granados-Aparici S, Díaz-Martín J, Salguero-Aranda C, Acevedo-León D, de Álava E, Navarro S, Noguera R. Characterization of Vitronectin Effect in 3D Ewing Sarcoma Models: A Digital Microscopic Analysis of Two Cell Lines. Cancers. 2024; 16(19):3347. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39409975/
