Integrin

Integrins, a family of heterodimeric adhesion receptors for diverse extracellular matrices, have consistently been implicated as crucial drivers of ovarian cancer development and progression. A number of the RGD-based members of the integrin family, including α5β1, and αvβ3 or αvβ5 integrins, are markedly elevated in aggressive ovarian tumors. These adhesion receptors appear to promote cell adhesion, survival, motility and invasion during ovarian tumor growth or metastatic progression. Importantly, the functions of these integrins are strongly dependent on the activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and its downstream signaling, including the PI3K/Akt- and Ras/MAPK-dependent pathways.

Integrins are transmembrane proteins and are major receptors for cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell-cell adhesion. Modulation of these molecules, particularly αv integrin family, has exhibited profound effects on fibrosis in multiple organ and disease state. Based on the several studies, the integrins αvβ3, αvβ5, αvβ6, and αvβ8 have been known to modulate the fibrotic process via activation of latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in pre-clinical models of fibrosis.

Each integrin is typically formed by the non-covalent pairing of one α subunit, of which, 18 types are known to exist, and one β subunit, of which 8 types are known to exist. Together, 24 distinct heterodimers have been identified to date. The αv subunit can form heterodimers with the β1, β3, β5, β6 or β8 subunits and β1 can associate with many different α subunits from α1 to α11, and αv, indicating that not all theoretically possible α and subunit pairs form. Interestingly, the activation of TGF-β appears to be a common function of multiple αv integrins.