ABSTRACT Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) play important roles in lymphocyte/mediated immune responses. Interactions between lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), ICAM-2 or ICAM-3 initiate critical signaling in T lymphocytes. CAMs may regulate the mobility and trafficking of T-cells during the immune response, and T-cells can come in contact with antigen presenting cells (APC) in the T-cell zones of peripheral lymphoid organs. CAMs are also known to be specific receptors for viruses and, by virtue of their capacity to initiate intercellular signaling, they are critical to the onset of autoimmune diseases and certain forms of cancer . Interactions of CAMs with cytoskeletal proteins affect cellular functions, including receptor internalization and cellular targeting . In this view, we focus on the mechanism of lymphocyte activation of CAMs and discuss specific interactions between these molecules and their receptors. The roles of divalent cations and of subsites on the molecules themselves are explored along with potential applications that are based upon the structure-function of CAMs.
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