Integrin alpha-4 beta-1 (Very Late Antigen-4) (VLA-4)

Integrin alpha-4 beta-1, commonly known as Very Late Antigen-4 (VLA-4), is a heterodimeric cell surface receptor composed of the alpha-4 (CD49d) and beta-1 (CD29) subunits. It plays a pivotal role in the recruitment of various cell types, including leukocytes and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), to sites of inflammation or injury by binding to Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expressed on the vascular endothelium (Source: PubMed, PMID: 24508224). In the context of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs), the VLA-4/VCAM-1 axis is a critical mediator of homing, the process by which systemically administered cells navigate to and engraft within damaged tissues (Source: NIH, PMC4148521). While VLA-4 is a major therapeutic target for autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis—where drugs like natalizumab block its function to prevent neuroinflammation—enhancing its expression or activity is a key strategy in regenerative medicine to improve the delivery and efficacy of MSC-based therapies (Source: UniProt, P13612). The interaction facilitates both the initial rolling and the subsequent firm adhesion of cells to the vessel wall, which is essential for extravasation into target tissues.

Other names

CD49d/CD29Integrin alpha-4 subunit and beta-1 subunit complexVLA-4 receptorLPAM-2

Antagonists bind to the alpha-4 subunit of the VLA-4 integrin, blocking its interaction with Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and preventing cell adhesion and transmigration across the endothelium.