ADHESION MOLECULE INTERACTION WITH EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX

The role of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in supporting tissue s tructure and modulating cell motility or phagocytosis is well establis hed. Recent demonstration of complex in vitro interactions between lym phocytes and ECM components mediated by an array of cell surface adhes ion receptors supports the role ECM may play in physiological function ing of the immune system in vivo, e.g. cell activation, migration and positioning in specific tissue microenvironments. Thus, ECM components and their lymphocyte adhesion ligands should be considered as active participants in the host immune responses, including that triggered by transplantation of an MHC-incompatible organ graft.