THE INTEGRIN BETA-SUBUNIT

The integrin family of cell adhesion receptors plays a fundamental rol e in the processes involved in cell division, differentiation and move ment. The extracellular domains of integrin alpha/beta heterodimers me diate cell-matrix and cell-cell contacts while their cytoplasmic tails associate with the cytoskeleton. Integrins are capable of transducing information in a bidirectional manner and the beta subunit is now rec ognised to play an important role in this process. Recent studies have led to the identification of a ligand-binding region on the beta subu nit similar to that already characterised on some alpha subunits, and sequences in the cytoplasmic tails of the beta subunits that interact with cytoskeletal and signalling components. Adhesive events can also play a role in the progression of all four major classes of human dise ase - neoplastic, inflammatory, traumatic and infectious - and the spe cific nature of integrin adhesion mechanisms make them an attractive t arget for therapy. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.