Collagen-binding integrin

Collagen-binding integrins are a specialized subgroup of the integrin family of cell-surface receptors, comprising four distinct alpha-beta heterodimers: alpha-1 beta-1 (VLA-1), alpha-2 beta-1 (VLA-2), alpha-10 beta-1, and alpha-11 beta-1 (Zeltz & Gullberg, 2016). These receptors are primary mediators of cell interaction with the collagenous extracellular matrix (ECM), recognizing specific triple-helical motifs such as GFOGER (Leitinger, 2011). They play fundamental roles in physiological processes including cell adhesion, migration, survival, and the regulation of ECM synthesis. In disease states, collagen-binding integrins are frequently dysregulated; for instance, alpha-1 beta-1 and alpha-2 beta-1 are involved in promoting tumor angiogenesis and metastasis, as well as driving fibrotic responses in the liver, lungs, and kidneys (Popov et al., 2011). Therapeutic targeting of these integrins, primarily through monoclonal antibodies or small molecule inhibitors like SAR113945 or BTT1023, aims to mitigate chronic inflammation and fibrotic progression by disrupting aberrant cell-collagen signaling pathways (McCall-Culbreath & Zutter, 2008).

Other names

Integrin alpha-1 beta-1Integrin alpha-2 beta-1Integrin alpha-10 beta-1Integrin alpha-11 beta-1VLA-1VLA-2Collagen receptorITGA1ITGA2ITGA10ITGA11

Antagonism of collagen binding and inhibition of downstream signaling pathways