Using a novel pharmacological tool with (125)I-echistatin to detect integrins on the cell, we have observed that cardiac fibroblasts harbor five different RGD-binding integrins: alpha(8)beta(1), alpha(3)beta(1), alpha(5)beta(1), alpha(v)beta(1), and alpha(v)beta(3). Stimulation of cardiac fibroblasts by angiotensin II (ANG II) or transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) resulted in an increase of protein and heightening by 50% of the receptor density of alpha(8)beta(1)-integrin. The effect of ANG II was blocked by an AT(1), but not an AT(2), receptor antagonist, or by an anti-TGF-beta1 antibody. ANG II and TGF-beta1 increased fibronectin secretion, smooth muscle alpha-actin synthesis, and formation of actin stress fibers and enhanced attachment of fibroblasts to a fibronectin matrix. The alpha(8)- and beta(1)-subunits were colocalized by immunocytochemistry with vinculin or beta(3)-integrin at focal adhesion sites. These results indicate that alpha(8)beta(1)-integrin is an abundant integrin on rat cardiac fibroblasts. Its positive modulation by ANG II and TGF-beta1 in a myofibroblast-like phenotype suggests the involvement of alpha(8)beta(1)-integrin in extracellular matrix protein deposition and cardiac fibroblast adhesion.