| Background |
Integrins are transmembrane glycoproteins that form heterodimers consisting of one α and one β subunit. Integrin dimers act as receptors for extracellular matrix proteins and cell-surface ligands. Integrin signaling to (inside-out) and from (outside-in) extracellular molecules regulates multiple cellular processes, such as development, wound healing, immune response, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis Integrin β2 (CD18) is the β subunit of the leukocyte-specific integrin family. Leukocyte integrins include Integrin β2 (CD18)/αL (CD11a) (LFA-1, lymphocyte function associated antigen 1), Integrin β2 (CD18)/αM (CD11b) (Mac-1), Integrin β2 (CD18)/αX (CD11c), and Integrin β2 (CD18)/αD (CD11d). These integrins bind to immunoglobulin superfamily members, such as ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on endothelial cells, to mediate firm adhesion and transendothelial migration of leukocytes Integrin β2 (CD18) deficiency results in LAD (leukocyte adhesion deficiency), a disease characterized by impairment of leukocyte recruitment resulting in inability to fight infection.
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