The newcomer in the integrin family: Integrin α9 in biology and cancer.

TY - JOUR

T1 - The newcomer in the integrin family: Integrin α9 in biology and cancer.

AU - Høye, Anette Melissa

AU - Couchman, John Robert

AU - Wewer, Ulla M.

AU - Yoneda, Atsuko

AU - Fukami, Kiyoko

PY - 2012/5

Y1 - 2012/5

N2 - Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane receptors regulating cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Of the 24 integrin heterodimers identified in humans, α9β1 integrin is one of the least studied. α9, together with α4, comprise a more recent evolutionary sub-family of integrins that is only found in vertebrates. Since α9 was thought to have similar functions as α4, due to many shared ligands, it was a rather overlooked integrin until recently, when its importance for survival after birth was highlighted upon investigation of the α9 knockout mouse. α9β1 is expressed on a wide variety of cell types, interacts with many ligands for example fibronectin, tenascin-C and ADAM12, and has been shown to have important functions in processes such as cell adhesion and migration, lung development, lymphatic and venous valve development, and in wound healing. This has sparked an interest to investigate α9β1-mediated signaling and its regulation. This review gives an overview of the recent progress in α9β1-mediated biological and pathological processes, and discusses its potential as a target for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

AB - Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane receptors regulating cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Of the 24 integrin heterodimers identified in humans, α9β1 integrin is one of the least studied. α9, together with α4, comprise a more recent evolutionary sub-family of integrins that is only found in vertebrates. Since α9 was thought to have similar functions as α4, due to many shared ligands, it was a rather overlooked integrin until recently, when its importance for survival after birth was highlighted upon investigation of the α9 knockout mouse. α9β1 is expressed on a wide variety of cell types, interacts with many ligands for example fibronectin, tenascin-C and ADAM12, and has been shown to have important functions in processes such as cell adhesion and migration, lung development, lymphatic and venous valve development, and in wound healing. This has sparked an interest to investigate α9β1-mediated signaling and its regulation. This review gives an overview of the recent progress in α9β1-mediated biological and pathological processes, and discusses its potential as a target for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jbior.2012.03.004

DO - 10.1016/j.jbior.2012.03.004

M3 - Review

SN - 2212-4926

VL - 52

SP - 326

EP - 339

JO - Advances in Biological Regulation

JF - Advances in Biological Regulation

IS - 2

ER -