[Cell adhesion proteins in the nervous system: immunoglobulin superfamily--structure, function and involvement in...

Cell adhesion proteins play important roles in cell-cell interactions, which regulate development and maintenance of multicellular organisms. In the nervous system, there exist unique groups of cell adhesion proteins, that are essential for elaborate neural network formation. Accumulated evidences indicate these proteins express and function at spatially and temporally defined stages of development and regeneration of the nervous system. Recent studies revealed that some mutations of cell adhesion proteins cause various neurological diseases. In this article, we review recent progress and perspectives of studies on proteins of immunoglobulin superfamily in the nervous system, focusing on their structure, physiological roles and involvement in neurological diseases.