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Integrins: versatile receptors controlling melanocyte adhesion, migration and proliferation
Author(s) -
Pi Perrine,
WehrleHaller Bernhard
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
pigment cell and melanoma research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1755-148X
pISSN - 1755-1471
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-148x.2010.00806.x
Subject(s) - integrin , microbiology and biotechnology , melanocyte , receptor , cell adhesion , adhesion , biology , chemistry , cancer research , genetics , melanoma , organic chemistry
Summary From the onset of melanocyte specification from the neural crest, throughout their migration during embryogenesis and until they reside in their niche in the basal keratinocyte layer, melanocytes interact in dynamic ways with the extracellular environment of the growing embryo. To recognize and to adhere to their environment, melanocytes depend on heterodimeric cell surface receptors of the family of integrins. In addition to the control of adhesive interactions between melanocytes and the extracellular matrix scaffold secreted by fibroblasts and keratinocytes, the integrin receptors allow cells also to sense the mechanical condition of the extracellular environment, responding by intracellular signaling, triggering cell survival, proliferation or migration events. In this review, we summarize the recently emerged concepts that explain integrin‐dependent adhesion and how this adhesion system interfaces with integrin‐dependent signaling events. The gained information will help to understand melanocyte behavior in pathological situations such as melanoma growth and metastasis formation.