title: Adhesion receptors in health and disease.
abstract: Cell adhesion molecules have been recognized to play a major role in a variety of physiological and pathological phenomena. They determine the specificity of cell-cell binding and the interactions between cells and extracellular matrix proteins. Some of them may also function as receptors that trigger intracellular pathways and participate in cellular processes like migration, proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. The receptors that mediate adhesion between epithelial cells that are discussed in this review include integrins, selectins, the immunoglobulin superfamily members, and cadherins. The intent of this review is to inform the reader about recent advances in cellular and molecular functions of certain receptors, specifically those that are considered important in cell adhesion. We have deliberately not provided all-inclusive detailed information on every molecule, but instead, have presented a generalized overview in order to give the reader a global perspective. This information will be useful in enhancing the reader's understanding of the molecular pathology of diseases and recognizing the potential role of these receptors and ligands as therapeutic agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusettes 02115, USA.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D004194:Disease; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000502:physiology; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology; D008024:Ligands; D019087:Selectins / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D016023:Integrins; D008024:Ligands; D019087:Selectins