Cell adhesion molecules and the kidney

H A Rabb1

  • 1Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of South Florida, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa 33612.

Insights

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are crucial in kidney development and disease. Targeting these molecules shows promise for treating renal diseases like glomerulonephritis and transplant rejection.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) regulate critical biological processes such as morphogenesis, immune response, and thrombosis.
  • Four major CAM groups exist: integrins, cadherins, immunoglobulin superfamily members, and selectins.
  • CAM expression patterns vary in developing, normal, and cancerous kidneys.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of CAMs in kidney development and disease.
  • To explore the potential of CAMs as therapeutic targets for renal conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of CAM expression in different kidney states (developing, normal, cancerous).
  • Examination of CAM alterations in glomerulonephritis and transplant rejection.
  • Review of preliminary studies on CAM-blocking therapies.

Main Results:

  • CAMs are differentially expressed in developing, normal, and cancerous kidneys.
  • Specific CAMs are altered in conditions like glomerulonephritis and transplant rejection.
  • Preliminary data suggest CAM blockade can reduce tissue damage in renal diseases.

Conclusions:

  • CAMs play a significant role in kidney physiology and pathology.
  • Understanding CAMs offers insights into normal and diseased kidney function.
  • Targeting CAMs may provide novel therapeutic strategies for renal diseases.

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions01:24

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

The extracellular matrix or ECM holds cells together to form a tissue and allows the cells within the tissue to communicate. ECM comprises proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, etc. The most abundant protein in this space is collagen. Collagen fibers are interwoven with carbohydrate-containing protein molecules called proteoglycans. ECM allows cell migration and provides a structural scaffold at cell adhesion that anchors the cell when the extracellular matrix proteins interact with...
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions01:20

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily  involved in a...
Selectins01:25

Selectins

Cell adhesion is  an essential aspect of multicellularity. While stable cell interactions usually occur between cells of the same type, transient cell interactions occur between cells of different tissue types, such as between neutrophils and endothelial cells. Selectins are one class of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that bind carbohydrate ligands to form transient cell adhesion. They are rod-like proteins with a long extracellular part of variable length ending with the lectin domain, which...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules01:31

Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules

Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions01:20

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily  involved in a...