Adhesion Molecules & Integrins
Cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion enables cell communication and movement and is critical for the development and maintenance of tissues. Adhesion is involved in immune cell migration, metastasis, angiogenesis, wound healing, and other processes. Changes in cell adhesion can be the defining event in diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, and arthritis. Adhesion between tumor cells and their microenvironment involves integrins, matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), and the ECM.

The complex network of proteins and proteoglycans that make up the ECM can interact simultaneously with multiple cell surface receptors. The most abundant ECM proteins are fibronectin, laminin, and collagen. Many interactions with the ECM are mediated by integrins, which transduce bidirectional signals controlling cell growth, differentiation, migration, apoptosis and more.

EMD Millipore provides a series of cell-based assays as well as integrin, cadherin and selectin-specific antibodies and proteins, to facilitate discovery of the mechanisms and interactions that regulate cellular adhesion, including cell-ECM and cell-cell interactions.
For further biochemical analysis of adhesion molecules and integrins, browse our selection of antibodies, proteins and inhibitors. Or search our selection of antibodies and assays directly by using the product search tool on the right.


PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT
Adhesion Array Kits
Integrin Adhesion Profile of Various Cell Lines

Several cell lines were incubated with an array of individuallycoated a-integrin antibodies on a 96-well plate. The graph above shows differing integrin expression levels for each cell line. Adding or altering experimental factors to this type of test system allows one to monitor the effects on the adhesion signaling.
The majority of cell-ECM interactions occur via integrins, a large family of heterodimeric membrane glycoproteins consisting of noncovalently associated alpha and beta subunits. Integrin combinations can either recognize a single ECM ligand or bind several different ECM proteins. Integrin-Mediated Cell Adhesion Array kits are designed as a cost effective, efficient method for identification of cell surface integrins. The kit format uses 12 x 8-well removable strips in a plate frame for convenience and flexibility in designing assays.
Description Fluorometric Kit Catalogue No. Colorimetric Kit Catalogue No.
α Integrin Cell Adhesion Array Kit ECM530 ECM533
ß Integrin Cell Adhesion Array Kit ECM531 ECM534
α / ß Integrin Cell Adhesion Array Combo Kit ECM532 ECM535