title: Integrins in lens development and disease.
abstract: Integrins are the major cell surface receptors for proteins in the extracellular matrix. These receptors form major cell signaling centers that are bidirectional, communicating messages between the cell and its environment. They are a large receptor family, with members well-known to regulate cellular processes essential to both development and disease. In this review we examine the literature regarding integrins in the lens. Here we cover integrin function in lens cell differentiation, in the development of the lens and in protection of the lens epithelial cell phenotype. In addition, we analyze the role of integrins in the progression of lens fibrotic diseases, focusing particularly on integrin regulation of TGFbeta signaling pathways in posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and anterior subcapsular cataract (ASC).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: A Sue
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Menko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007905:Lens Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins