Adhesion in Leukocyte Homing and Differentiation

An examination of the structure and function of the major families of cell adhesion molecules - the integrins, the selectins, the immunoglobulin superfamily and CD44 - which concentrates on their role in the immune system. The contributors explore the interactions between members of these families.

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This study analyzes current knowledge on the structure and function of the major families of cell adhesion molecules, the integrins, the selectins, the immunoglobulin superfamily and CD44, concentrating on their role in the immune system. Complex interactions between the members of these families mediate diverse adhesion functions, including leukocyte-leukocyte interactions, lymphocyte homing, inflammation, and lymphocyte-stromal cell interaction during haemopoiesis. Emphasis is placed on the regulatory elements that control the expression and function of adhesion molecules. Cytokines not only induce expression of certain adhesion molecules, but may also modify their functional status. A number of chapters discuss the migration of lymphocytes between haemopoietic organs such as the thymus, lymph nodes, Peyer's patches and spleen, and others focus on the changes in leukocyte migration during an inflammatory response.