| Background |
Integrins are α/β heterodimeric cell surface receptors that play a pivotal role in cell adhesion and migration, as well as in growth and survival The integrin family contains at least 18 α and 8 β subunits that form 24 known integrins with distinct tissue distribution and overlapping ligand specificities Integrins not only transmit signals to cells in response to the extracellular environment (outside-in signaling), but also sense intracellular cues to alter their interaction with the extracellular environment (inside-out signaling)Integrin α5/β1 is involved in multiple biological processes including embryonic development, angiogenesis and tumor metastasis By interaction with its fibronectin ligand, α5/β1 transduces signals that regulate cell adhesion, migration, matrix assembly and cytoskeletal organization.
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