title: The role of integrins in glaucoma.
abstract: Integrins are a family of heterodimeric transmembrane receptors that mediate adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM). In addition to their role as adhesion receptors, integrins can act as ''bidirectional signal transducers'' that coordinate a large number of cellular activities in response to the extracellular environment and intracellular signaling events. This bidirectional signaling helps maintain tissue homeostasis. Dysregulated bidirectional signaling, however, could trigger the propagation of feedback loops that can lead to the establishment of a disease state such as glaucoma. Here we discuss the role of integrins and bidirectional signaling as they relate to the glaucomatous phenotype with special emphasis on the αvβ3 integrin. We present evidence that this particular integrin may have a significant impact on the pathogenesis of glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Filla
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Faralli
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Peotter
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA. Electronic address: dmpeter2@wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3 / Q000502:physiology; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology*; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000378:metabolism; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3; D016023:Integrins
keywords: Extracellular matrix; Glaucoma; Integrins; Optic nerve head; Trabecular meshwork