Integrins are cell adhesion molecules that are composed of an alpha(a)subunit and a beta(b)subunit with affinity for different extracellular membrane components.The integrin family includes 24 known members that activ...Integrins are cell adhesion molecules that are composed of an alpha(a)subunit and a beta(b)subunit with affinity for different extracellular membrane components.The integrin family includes 24 known members that actively regulate cellular growth,differentiation,and apoptosis.Each integrin heterodimer has a particular function in defined contexts as well as some partially overlapping features with other members in the family.As many reviews have covered the general integrin family in molecular and cellular studies in life science,this review will focus on the specific regulation,function,and signaling of integrin a2 subunit(CD49b,VLA-2;encoded by the gene ITGA2)in partnership with b1(CD29)subunit in normal and cancer cells.Its roles in cell adhesion,cell motility,angiogenesis,stemness,and immune/blood cell regulations are discussed.The pivotal role of integrin a2 in many diseases such as cancer suggests its potential to be used as a novel therapeutic target.展开更多
基金This manuscript is partially supported by the funds from the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute(NIH/NCI)R00CA160638(H.L.)its Supplement for Diversity(V.A.),American Cancer Society 127951-RSG-15-025-01-CSM(H.L.)+1 种基金Susan G.Komen Foundation CCR15332826(H.L.)Department of Defense W81XWH-16-1-0021(H.L.).
文摘Integrins are cell adhesion molecules that are composed of an alpha(a)subunit and a beta(b)subunit with affinity for different extracellular membrane components.The integrin family includes 24 known members that actively regulate cellular growth,differentiation,and apoptosis.Each integrin heterodimer has a particular function in defined contexts as well as some partially overlapping features with other members in the family.As many reviews have covered the general integrin family in molecular and cellular studies in life science,this review will focus on the specific regulation,function,and signaling of integrin a2 subunit(CD49b,VLA-2;encoded by the gene ITGA2)in partnership with b1(CD29)subunit in normal and cancer cells.Its roles in cell adhesion,cell motility,angiogenesis,stemness,and immune/blood cell regulations are discussed.The pivotal role of integrin a2 in many diseases such as cancer suggests its potential to be used as a novel therapeutic target.
