Alpha-4 / Beta-1 integrin

Alpha4/beta1 is a receptor for fibronectin containing the CS-1 region, which is situated within the IIICS region, and VCAM-1 (vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1). It is present on lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, NK-cells and thymocytes. This integrin plays a role in the invasion of inflammated tissues, and has also been implicated in skeletal myogenesis, neural crest migration and proliferation, lymphocyte maturation and morphogenisis of the placenta and heart.
VCAM-1 is an adhesion molecule which is present on cytokine-activated endothelial cells, while fibronectin is part of the extracellular matrix. Alpha4/beta1 is thus involved in both cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion. This integrin is also known as VLA-4 (very late activation antigen 4) and LPAM-2 (lymphocyte Peyer's patch HEV adhesion molecule 2 (mouse)).

Last updated on 18/06/97

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