Integrins and cardiovascular diseases

The adhesion of cells to each other and to the proteins of the extracellular matrix provides a stable environment for cell growth, differentiation and migration. This is a prerequisite for the normal function of the cardiovascular system. Thus the abnormal adhesion function may play a key role in the pathogenesis and development of cardiovascular diseases. To date, there are six main groups of adhesion molecule, and integrins family are the largest and most broadly distributed of the families of cellular adhesion receptors. They have an important role in several aspects of cardiovascular diseases and that its regulated inhibition leads to a reduction in incidence andmortality due to these disorders. This review focuses upon the structure, mechanism and their roles in cardiovascular diseases which maybe facilitate the development of novel therapies.