Cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions involve transmembrane glycoproteins such as cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and integrins (ITGs), which are thought to function via interactions of their cytoplasmic domains with proteins associated with the cytoskeleton.

The specific adhesion of cells to other cells or to extracellular matrices is a basic component of cell migration and recognition and underlies many biologic processes, including embryogenesis, tissue repair, and immune and inflammatory responses.

It is, therefore, not surprising that many different genes have evolved that encode proteins with specific adhesive functions. Two families of adhesive proteins that are especially important in inflammation are the selectins (SLNs) and the integrins (ITGs).

Junctions

 Adhesion between vertebrate cells is generally mediated by three types of adhesion junction: tight junctions (TJs), adherens junctions (AJs), and desmosomes. Together they constitute the intercellular junctional complex, which has an important role in defining the physiological function of a cell; that is, they define whether and how a cell will be integrated in functional structures, such as organ epithelia or stroma.

 Cadherins (CDHs) are the principal components of AJs and desmosomes, and cluster at sites of cell-cell contact in most solid tissues. The cadherin superfamily consists of classical cadherins, which are the main mediators of calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion, and non-classical cadherins, which include desmosomal cadherins and the recently discovered large subfamily of protocadherins, which are implicated in neuronal plasticity. The functional role of non-classical cadherins in tumour progression is unknown, so in this review we will focus on classical cadherins.

Types

 cell-cell adhesion
 cell-matrix adhesion

Features

 adhesion-dependent cell mechanosensitivity
 focal cell adhesion

Pathology

 cancer

• cancer invsion
• cancer metastasis

 anomalies of development

• missense mutations in CRELD1 coding for cirrin are associated with cardiac atrioventricular septal defects (#12632326#)

 inflammation and immunity

References

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 Brembeck FH, Rosario M, Birchmeier W. Balancing cell adhesion and Wnt signaling, the key role of beta-catenin. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2006 Feb;16(1):51-9. PMID: #16377174#

 Cavallaro U, Christofori G. Cell adhesion and signalling by cadherins and Ig-CAMs in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer. 2004 Feb;4(2):118-32. PMID: #14964308#

 Thiery JP. Cell adhesion in development: a complex signaling network. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2003 Aug;13(4):365-71. PMID: #12888009#

 Balda MS, Matter K. Epithelial cell adhesion and the regulation of gene expression. Trends Cell Biol. 2003 Jun;13(6):310-8. PMID: #12791297#

 Bailly M. Connecting cell adhesion to the actin polymerization machinery: vinculin as the missing link? Trends Cell Biol. 2003 Apr;13(4):163-5. PMID: #12667752#

 Wehrle-Haller B, Imhof B. The inner lives of focal adhesions. Trends Cell Biol. 2002 Aug;12(8):382-9. PMID: #12191915#