Integrin-Mediated Cell Adhesion in Immune Responses
Summary
Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane receptors that orchestrate cell adhesion by linking the extracellular matrix and neighbouring cells to the cytoskeleton. In the immune system, integrins mediate key steps from circulation to tissue infiltration, notably through dynamic changes in affinity and avidity that permit leucocyte rolling, firm adhesion and transendothelial migration. During antigen recognition, integrins assemble and stabilise the immunological synapse, providing essential costimulatory signals and organising the cytoskeleton to support sustained T-cell activation. Outside-in signalling downstream of ligand binding regulates cell survival, proliferation and cytokine secretion, while inside-out pathways fine-tune integrin activation in response to chemokines and antigen receptor engagement. Diverse integrin dimers, such as LFA-1 (αLβ2), VLA-4 (α4β1) and α4β7, guide cell trafficking to specific tissues, including mucosal surfaces. Aberrant integrin function contributes to chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders and impaired host defence, and has become a target for therapeutic intervention. Small-molecule and monoclonal inhibitors of specific integrin subunits are in clinical use or trials for diseases such as multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis. As our understanding of integrin conformational states and intracellular adaptors deepens, new opportunities arise for precision modulation of immune adhesion in infection, cancer and autoimmunity.
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Integrin-Mediated Cell Adhesion in Immune Responses publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in integrin-mediated cell adhesion in immune responses across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Integrin: Heterodimeric transmembrane receptor that mediates cell adhesion to extracellular ligands and initiates bidirectional signalling.
Extracellular matrix (ECM): Network of fibrous proteins and glycoproteins providing structural support and biochemical cues to cells.
Leukocyte extravasation: Multi-step process whereby immune cells adhere to and traverse the endothelium to enter tissues.
Immunological synapse: Structured contact region between a T cell and an antigen-presenting cell that organises receptors and signalling molecules.
Affinity modulation: Regulation of integrin–ligand binding strength through conformational changes in response to intracellular or extracellular signals.
References
- Integrins in T Cell Physiology. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2018).
- Ectopic Tumor VCAM-1 Expression in Cancer Metastasis and Therapy Resistance. Cells (2022).
- Shedding Light on the Drug–Target Prediction of the Anti-Inflammatory Peptide TnP with Bioinformatics Tools. Pharmaceuticals (2022).
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