Focal adhesion: a focal point in current cell biology and molecular medicine

Cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important property of virtually all cells in multi-cellular organisms. Cell-ECM adhesion research, therefore, has broad impact on biology and medicine. Studies over the past three decades have resulted in tremendous advance in our understanding of the molecular basis and functions of cell-ECM adhesion. Here, I focus on some of the general lessons that we have learned from recent studies on cell-ECM adhesion. In addition, I highlight several topics in this rapidly advancing research area. These topics, which include assembly, disassembly and regulation of cell-ECM adhesion structures, the molecular mechanisms of bi-directional signaling through cell-ECM adhesions, and the tissue and organ pathobiology of cell-ECM adhesion, are pertinent to our understanding of cell-ECM adhesion and signaling.