The biological functions of beta3 integrins.
Integrins comprise a large family of alphabeta heterodimeric cell-surface receptors that are found in many animal species. They are expressed on a wide variety of cells. There are two members in the beta3 integrin family: alphaIIb beta3 and alpha(v)beta3. This class of adhesion receptors mediates cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Dysregulation of the beta3 integrins is involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases (including cancer) and in transplant rejection. Integrins also play a key role in many virus infectious cycles. In this paper the biological functions of the beta3 family are reviewed, with particular interest in its role in cancer progression and metastasis.
Switala-Jelen
K
K
Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Wroclaw, Poland. switala@iitd.pan.wroc.pl
Dabrowska
K
K
Opolski
A
A
Lipinska
L
L
Nowaczyk
M
M
Gorski
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D039661:Integrin beta3 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000209:etiology
D039661:Integrin beta3; D008024:Ligands