Feature, Structure and Classifi cation of Adhesion Molecules: An Overview - Adhesion Molecules - page 1

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CHAPTER

Feature, Structure and Classifi cation of
Adhesion Molecules: An Overview

Deirdre R. Coombe 1 and Danielle E. Dye 2
1 Molecular Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences,
Curtin University of Technology, Level 3, MRF Building, Rear, 50 Murray Street,
Perth WA 6000, E-mail: [e-mail]
2 Department of Health, Western Australia, 3rd Floor, C Block, 189 Royal St.,
East Perth WA 6004, E-mail: [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

Cell adhesion molecules allow cells to communicate with each other and with their
environment. h e interactions between cell adhesion receptors and their ligands
orchestrate the assembly of cells into tissues, organs and systems, and lead to the
formation of multicellular organisms. Numerous dif erent adhesive events, which
may be synergistic or antagonistic, are required for organizing a tissue or a cell
behavior. It is the balance between these events that determines the structure of a
tissue, or whether cells stay in tight association with other cells or migrate around
the body.
h ere are four main families of cell adhesion receptors: the immunoglobulin
superfamily, integrins, cadherins and selectins. h e cadherins mediate strong cell-
cell adhesion and play a fundamental role in morphogenesis and development,
while integrins are critical to cell-matrix interactions and cell migration through
the extracellular matrix. Immunoglobulin superfamily members contribute to and
modulate cell-cell interactions. h ese three large families contribute to adhesive
interactions between many cell types in dif erent tissues. h e selectins have
three family members and they perform a very specii c role critical for leukocyte
migration from the vasculature.