title: Cell adhesion molecules--update.
abstract: Cell adhesion molecules are glycoproteins expressed on the cell surface and play an important role in inflammatory as well as neoplastic diseases. There are four main groups: the integrin family, the immunoglobulin superfamily, selectins, and cadherins. The integrin family has eight subfamilies, designated as beta 1 through beta 8. The most widely studied subfamilies are beta 1 (CD29, very late activation [VLA] members), beta 2 (leukocyte integrins such as CD11a/CD18, CD11b/CD18, CD11c/CD18, and alpha d beta 2), beta 3 (CD61, cytoadhesions), and beta 7 (alpha 4 beta 7 and alpha E beta 7). The immunoglobulin superfamily includes leukocyte function antigen-2 (LFA-2 or CD2), leukocyte function antigen-3 (LFA-3 or CD58), intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs), vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PE-CAM-1), and mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1). The selectin family includes E-selectin (CD62E), P-selectin (CD62P), and L-selectin (CD62L). Cadherins are major cell-cell adhesion molecules and include epithelial (E), placental (P), and neural (N) subclasses. The binding sites (ligands/receptors) are different for each of these cell adhesion molecules (e.g., ICAM binds to CD11/CD18; VCAM-1 binds to VLA-4). The specific cell adhesion molecules and their ligands that may be involved in pathologic conditions and potential therapeutic strategies by modulating the expression of these molecules will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, WIL Research Laboratories, Ashland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Elangbam
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Qualls
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Dahlgren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007136:Immunoglobulins