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Leukocyte integrins and their ligand interactions

Young-Min Hyun1, Craig T Lefort, Minsoo Kim

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester, NY 14642, USA.

Immunologic Research
|February 3, 2009
PubMed

Although critical for cell adhesion and migration during normal immune-mediated reactions, leukocyte integrins are also involved in the pathogenesis of diverse clinical conditions including autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation. Leukocyte integrins therefore have been targets for anti-adhesive therapies to treat the inflammatory disorders. Recently, the therapeutic potential of integrin antagonists has been demonstrated in psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. However, current therapeutics broadly affect integrin functions and, thus, yield unfavorable side effects. This review discusses the major leukocyte integrins and the anti-adhesion strategies for treating immune diseases.

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