EphA2 signaling within integrin adhesions regulates fibrillar adhesion elongation and fibronectin deposition.

The multifunctional glycoprotein fibronectin influences several crucial cellular processes and contributes to multiple pathologies. While a link exists between fibronectin-associated pathologies and the receptor tyrosine kinase EphA2, the mechanism by which EphA2 promotes fibronectin matrix remodeling remains unknown. We previously demonstrated that EphA2 deletion reduces smooth muscle fibronectin deposition and blunts fibronectin deposition in atherosclerosis without influencing fibronectin expression.