Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 1, 2026

An In Vitro Assay to Study Platelet Migration Using RGD-Functionalized Avidin-Biotin Tethers
Published on: November 8, 2024
Platelet ATP, Thyroid Hormone Receptor on Integrin αvβ3 and Cancer Metastasis
Paul J Davis1,2,3, Shaker A Mousa4, Geraldine P Schechter5,6
1Department of Medicine, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA. pdavis.ordwayst@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Activated platelets may contribute to the metastatic behavior of tumor cells when the cancer cells and platelets interact. The interaction requires cell and platelet surface integrin. Thyroid hormone as L-thyroxine (T4) is the principal ligand for a hormone receptor on integrin αvβ3 on tumor cells and platelets. T4 activates the integrin, promoting platelet aggregation and degranulation (local ATP release) and stimulating tumor cell proliferation. By a variety of molecular mechanisms reviewed here, extracellular ATP promotes tumor cell invasiveness and metastasis and supports a role for T4 as a pro-metastatic factor.
Related Concept Videos
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Integrins
Some ECM proteins assemble into a basement membrane to which the remaining components adhere. Proteoglycans typically form the bulk of the ECM while fibrous proteins, like collagen,...
Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
Activation of Integrins
In "outside-in signaling," external factors in the extracellular space bind to exposed ligand binding sites on integrins. This causes the inactive protein to undergo a conformational change to become active. Integrins are often clustered on the cell membrane. Repetitive and regularly spaced ligand binding...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Selectins

