Phagocytic Integrins: Activation and Signaling

Platelet Integrins and Signaling

The term integrin describes an adhesion molecule family and originates from the integrative function of these molecules between extracellular ligands and the intracellular cytoskeleton (1,2). Integrins mediate cell–cell, cell–extracellular matrix, and cell–pathogen interactions. Integrins have two major functions: First, they mechanically couple the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix or t...

PINCHing together integrins and signaling

ancreatic ␤ cells that exocytose insulin must make more insulin. Trajkovski et al., on page 1063, now demonstrate that the signal to induce insulin synthesis after exocytosis comes from the cleavage of the cy-toplasmic domain of islet cell autoantigen 512 (ICA512). This protein fragment migrates to the nucleus and drives changes in gene expression. Previous work showed that ICA512 is a transmem...

Integrins Bidirectional, Allosteric Signaling Machines

In their roles as major adhesion receptors, integrins signal across the plasma membrane in both directions. Recent structural and cell biological data suggest models for how integrins transmit signals between their extracellular ligand binding adhesion sites and their cytoplasmic domains, which link to the cytoskeleton and to signal transduction pathways. Long-range conformational changes coupl...

Are integrins involved in the aggregatory and phagocytic behaviour of fish haemostatic cells?

The involvement of a putative integrin-like fibrinogen receptor in the aggregatory and phagocytic behaviour of thrombocytes (platelet equivalents of fish) from the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss was studied. Aggregation of trout thrombocytes was induced by the thromboxane mimetic U-46619 in the presence of trout fibrinogen. Thrombocyte aggregation was inhibited by the tetrapeptide RGDS, but ...

Signaling by integrins: implications for tumorigenesis.