Integrin alpha 10 beta 1

Integrin alpha 10 beta 1 is the principal collagen II receptor of chondrocytes, assembled from the alpha-10 subunit encoded by ITGA10 and beta-1. Its I-domain binds triple-helical collagen II, making it essential for growth plate cartilage organization and skeletal development; mutations disrupting alpha 10 beta-1 function have been associated with osteoarthritis and with cartilage defects in animals. Expression is concentrated in cartilage, osteoblasts and intervertebral disc, with lower levels in brain and heart. Beyond matrix adhesion, the receptor influences chondrocyte differentiation and mechanotransduction. Recombinant alpha 10 protein supports studies of cartilage matrix interactions and of osteoarthritis mechanisms, an area where this integrin is comparatively specialized.