Cellular adhesion
Cellular adhesion is a biological process that involves the interaction between cells or between a cell and the extracellular matrix. This process is crucial for various biological functions such as tissue repair, immune response, and embryonic development.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Cellular adhesion is a complex process that involves a variety of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). These molecules are proteins located on the cell surface and play a key role in cell adhesion by binding to other cells or to the extracellular matrix. There are several types of CAMs, including integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin superfamily members.
Mechanisms[edit | edit source]
The mechanisms of cellular adhesion can be broadly classified into two categories: homophilic and heterophilic adhesion. In homophilic adhesion, the same types of CAMs on different cells bind to each other. In contrast, heterophilic adhesion involves the binding of different types of CAMs.
Functions[edit | edit source]
Cellular adhesion plays a crucial role in various biological functions. It is essential for the formation and maintenance of tissue structure. It also plays a key role in the immune response by facilitating the interaction between immune cells and their targets. Moreover, cellular adhesion is involved in the process of wound healing and embryonic development.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Abnormalities in cellular adhesion can lead to various diseases. For example, defects in cellular adhesion are associated with cancer metastasis, as cancer cells can detach from the primary tumor and spread to other parts of the body. Moreover, abnormalities in cellular adhesion can lead to autoimmune diseases, as they can result in the inappropriate activation of immune cells.
See also[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD