Development and Application of Conformation‐Selective Integrin Antibodies

Abstract

Of the major classes of adhesion receptors, including the immunoglobrin domain superfamily (IgSF), the cadherins, and other transmembrane adhesion receptors (e.g., claudins and occludins), integrins are unique in achieving rapid and reversible (second time scale) upregulation from a basal, inactive state to a maximally adhesive state, upon cell stimulation. In past studies, we have suggested, and subsequently demonstrated, that it is possible to selectively target persistently activated integrin in a physiological background. In this chapter, we will describe how such antibodies are derived, their mechanism of action, and their potential therapeutic application.