Integrin alpha X beta 2

Integrin alpha X beta 2, also designated CD11c/CD18, p150,95 or complement receptor 4, is the least abundant beta-2 integrin, restricted mainly to dendritic cells, macrophages, NK cells and granulocytes. It recognizes the complement opsonin iC3b and additionally binds fibrinogen, ICAM-1 and heparin, contributing to phagocytosis of opsonized particles, firm adhesion during leukocyte transmigration and innate immune signaling. Compared with the closely related alpha M beta 2 (Mac-1), alpha X beta 2 shows higher affinity for iC3b and lower affinity for fibrinogen. The heterodimer is often studied as recombinant protein in opsonophagocytosis assays, and CD11c remains the canonical dendritic cell marker in both human and mouse immunology.