Anti-integrins as a potential therapeutic target in angiogenesis

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Abstract
Several physiological processes including cell activation, migration, proliferation and differentiation require direct contact between cells or extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions are mediated through several different families of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), including the selectins, the integrins, the cadherins and the immunoglobulins. Newly discovered CAMs, along with the discovery of new roles of integrins, selectins and immunoglobulins in certain disease states, provide a great opportunity to develop therapeutic, and perhaps diagnostic, modalities.CAMs play a very significant and critical role in both normal and pathophysiological disease states. For this key reason, the selection of specific and relevant CAMs to target certain disease conditions, without interfering with other normal cellular functions is a very important prerequisite for the ultimate success in developing truly active and safe therapeutic strategies. Recent breakthroughs with animal models,...