Cell surface adhesion molecules play vital roles in numerous cellular processes including: cell growth, differentiation, embryogenesis, immune cell transmigration and response, and cancer metastasis. There are four major families of cell adhesion molecules. These are the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), integrins, cadherins, and selectins.
Selectins, and integrins are necessary for an initial tethering, triggering, firm attachment, and transendothelial migration of leukocytes. Inflammatory processes are capable of inducing an altered adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells. The result is a preferential homing of leukocytes to sites of inflammation.
