title: Dissecting the modes of interactions amongst cell adhesion molecules.
abstract: The process of cell adhesion can be mediated by more than 50 molecules. Fortunately, most of these can be grouped into a small number of superfamilies. For example, more than half of all leukocyte adhesion molecules are members of the immunoglobulin superfamily. The principles of cell-cell adhesion are reviewed including: kinetics and equilibria; on/off rates; affinities/avidities; homotypic/heterotypic interactions; mapping and delineation of binding sites. These principles are illustrated with two CAMs: firstly the interaction of the homotypic epithelial/myeloid adhesins CD66, and the endothelial adhesin, CD31, and secondly the heterotypic adhesins ICAM-1, 2 and 3, which interact with the leukocyte integrin LFA-1.
authors.affiliation: Cell Adhesion Laboratory, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; C069847:CD66 antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C483616:ICAM3 protein, human; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1