ABSTRACT
Our understanding of the role of integrins in biology has changed substantially, as it has become clear that integrins are involved not only in cell adhesion but also in signal transduction. There are really two modes of integrin-related signal transduction. The first is direct signaling where stimulation of integrins by extracellular matrix proteins or other ligands triggers intracellular signaling events. The second mode is integrin regulation of mitogen signaling, where integrin-mediated cell anchorage influences signaling pathways activated by growth factors. Activation of separate protein kinase cascades can now be analyzed rapidly and without the necessity for radioactivity, by utilizing phosphospecific antibodies. One of the major issues in integrin signaling is the role of the cytoskeleton.
