ABSTRACT
Cells in multicellular organisms are in contact with each other and with extracellular matrix (ECM). The adhesion of cells to each other or to the ECM is a complex and dynamic process involving physical and chemical interactions and biological signaling processes. As a consequence, cell adhesion is responsible for a wide range of normal and aberrant cellular activities [1-3]. This includes the regulation of cell growth and differentiation during development, and the modulation of the migration of immune cells to sites of infection, the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells, and angiogenesis during wound healing. Changes in cell adhesion have profound effects in many disease states through processes such as angiogenesis, apoptosis and inflammation and, therefore, can be the defining event in many diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis and arthritis.
