Cell adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix proteins: potential therapeutic applications

Adhesion plays a central role as a recognition system, guiding the interaction between individual cells, and thereby regulating many biological processes. Adhesion can occur via cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix interactions through several major cell adhesion molecule (CAM) families, including selectins, integrins, immunoglobulins and cadherins. Recent studies have focused on the elucidation of adhesive ligands responsible for the different types of cellular adhesion. Significant breakthroughs in CAM research are a result of various developments, including the purification of various adhesive proteins from different tissue sources and cloned adhesion molecules, the generation of specific monoclonal antibodies, the development of functional assays and the identification of certain genetic disorders linked to CAM defects. This has led to an increased understanding of the importance of CAM as a key therapeutic target.