adhésine

Adhésines are a family of integral membrane glycoproteins that play a crucial role in cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion. They are members of the immunoglobulin superfamily and are characterized by the presence of immunoglobulin-like domains in their extracellular region. Adhésines are typically composed of two subunits, an alpha chain and a beta chain, which are non-covalently linked. The extracellular domains of these subunits assemble to form the ligand-binding site.

These molecules are involved in a wide range of biological processes, including the immune response, inflammation, wound healing, and embryonic development. For example, adhésines on immune cells mediate their interaction with endothelial cells, facilitating their migration to sites of infection or injury. In the context of the extracellular matrix, adhésines can bind to various matrix components like collagen and fibronectin, thereby influencing cell attachment, migration, and survival.

The expression and activity of adhésines are tightly regulated and can be modulated by various signaling pathways. Dysregulation of adhésine function has been implicated in several diseases, including cancer metastasis, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. Understanding the structure, function, and regulation of adhésines is therefore of significant interest for both basic research and therapeutic development.