ABSTRACT
Many of the muscular dystrophies are caused by defects in proteins involved in maintaining connections between the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix-cell adhesion complexes. Cell adhesion complexes in many other systems are associated with major signalling pathways involved in regulating cell architecture, morphology and sur vival. This chapter explores the links between defects in cell adhesion attributable to muscular dystrophy and downstream signalling pathways that may offer novel and more accessible routes for therapy.
