Regulation of cell adhesion

Cell function usually requires an accurate control of attachment to and detachment from many other cells or biological surfaces. This is usually achieved by a combination of multiple cell processes the relative importance of which may be difficult to assess. The aim of this review is to discuss the role of different mechanisms used to control adhesion on the basis of selected examples and recently developed methodologies allowing quantitative study of cell adhesion. It is concluded that cells control adhesion by modifying (i) adhesion receptor expression, as a consequence of exocytosis, endocytosis, or proteolytic mechanisms, (ii) adhesion receptor intrinsic activity, through a variety of conformational changes, (iii) receptor organisation in cell membranes, as a consequence of topographical distribution and clustering, lateral mobility, and strength of anchoring to the cytoskeleton, and (iv) general processes unrelated to a specific receptors, such as glycocalyx changes or modification of cell shape or surface mechanical properties.