anti-Integrin alpha 4 (human), Rabbit Monoclonal (RM268)

Integrins are transmembrane proteins that mediate interactions between adhesion molecules on adjacent cells and/or the extracellular matrix (ECM). Integrins have diverse roles in several biological processes including cell migration during development and wound healing, cell differentiation, and apoptosis. Their activities can also regulate the metastatic and invasive potential of tumor cells. They exist as heterodimers consisting of alpha and beta subunits. Some alpha and beta subunits exhibit specificity for one another and may be designated as a VLA (very late antigen) member. Heterodimers often preferentially bind certain cell adhesion molecules, or constituents of the ECM. Although they have no catalytic activity, integrins can be part of multimolecular signaling complexes known as focal adhesions. Integrin alpha 4 (CD49d; ITGA4) is an integrin alpha subunit. Alpha4 chain associates with either beta1 or beta7 chain. It has been demonstrated that the putative ligand-binding sites of both integrin alpha4beta1 and alpha4beta7 is located on the alpha4 chain. Ligands include Madcam, VCAM and fibronectin. Madcam is known as the principal ligand for integrin alpha4beta7. Recently it was also demonstrated that HIV-1 envelope can mimic Madcam by binding to and signaling though integrin alpha4beta7, the gut mucosal homing receptor for peripheral T cells. CD49d has also been shown to interact with LGALS8 and Paxillin.