Integrin beta-6 (ITGB6) (ITGB6)

Integrin beta-6 is a transmembrane protein that exclusively pairs with the alpha-v subunit to form the heterodimeric receptor integrin alpha-v beta-6 (αvβ6) [1, 15]. This receptor is primarily expressed on the surface of epithelial cells and is a key regulator of tissue remodeling and wound healing [11, 15]. Its most significant biological function is the mechanical activation of latent transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), a potent cytokine involved in fibrosis and immune regulation [2, 4, 15]. In healthy adult tissues, integrin beta-6 expression is generally low or absent but becomes highly upregulated in pathological conditions such as organ fibrosis and various epithelial cancers [2, 5, 13]. In oncology, its overexpression is associated with increased tumor invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis, making it a valuable target for therapeutic intervention [4, 11, 14, 16]. Current drug development efforts include monoclonal antibodies and small molecules designed to inhibit TGF-β activation, as well as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that leverage its tumor-specific expression for targeted cytotoxicity [5, 11, 14].

Other names

Integrin subunit beta 6ITB6ITGB6Integrin beta 6

Inhibition of latent TGF-beta activation [5, 13], blockade of RGD-mediated cell adhesion and migration [4, 15], and targeted delivery of cytotoxic payloads via antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) [11, 14].