“…This integrin has been shown to interact with a wide variety of ligands, including the endothelial counter receptor VCAM-1 (36), tenascin C (37), osteopontin (38,39), cellular fibronectin (40), several members of the a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) family (41)(42)(43), coagulation factor XIII (44), tissue transglumatinase (44), VEGFA (45, 46), VEGFC and VEGFD (47), and von Willebrand factor (44). Our current findings suggest that integrin α 9 β 1 ligation is required for inhibition of airway smooth muscle contraction, since blocking antibody that inhibits interactions with ligands was as effective as KO or knockdown of the integrin in enhancing airway smooth muscle contraction.…”