Integrin and Signal Transduction

Integrins are important adhesion molecules located on cell surface,which can medi- ate cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular-matrix (ECM) interaction through bidirectional signal trans- duction.Integrins were structurally divided into three domains including extracellular domain,trans- membrane domain and cytoplasmic domain.When the cytoplasmic domain binds to intracellular sig- nal molecules,integrins are activated through an inside-out signaling pathway,which leads to high- affinity ligand binding.In turn,when the extracellular domain interacts with ligands,the outside-in signals mediated by integrins are triggered.This signaling transduction regulates cell existence,pro- liferation,adhesion and differentiation.More and more evidence shows that abnormalities of inte- grins and signal transduction are associated with many diseases.