Cadherriinijärjestelmä

Cadherriinijärjestelmä is a Finnish term referring to the cadherin system, a group of cell adhesion molecules crucial for tissue formation and maintenance. Cadherins are transmembrane proteins that mediate calcium-dependent cell-to-cell adhesion. They play a vital role in the development of multicellular organisms by establishing and maintaining the boundaries between cells and tissues. This cell-cell adhesion is essential for processes such as embryonic development, wound healing, and immune cell function.

The cadherin system is characterized by the diversity of cadherin proteins, each with specific expression patterns and binding preferences. These molecules connect to the actin cytoskeleton within the cell through adaptor proteins like catenins. This linkage provides mechanical strength to tissues and allows for communication between the extracellular environment and the cell's internal machinery. Dysregulation of the cadherin system is implicated in various diseases, including cancer, where altered cadherin expression can lead to loss of cell adhesion, promoting tumor invasion and metastasis. Understanding the cadherriinijärjestelmä is therefore fundamental to comprehending both normal biological processes and the pathogenesis of disease.