Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, Vol 8, 380-388, Copyright © 1997 by International & American Associations for Dental Research
Leukocyte adhesion molecules
T. W. Penberthy, Y. Jiang and D. T. Graves
Department of Endodontics, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
Recruitment of leukocytes is critical to many of the processes studied in
oral biology. With the development of new tools such as monoclonal antibody
production and transgenic mice, the specific adhesion molecules thought to
be important in leukocyte recruitment have been identified and their
function examined. These molecules can be divided into three major classes:
selectins, members of the immunoglobulin superfamily, and integrins. They
mediate interactions between leukocytes and endothelial cells, facilitating
the initial process of leukocyte rolling, firm attachment to endothelium,
transendothelial migration, diapedesis, and migration along connective
tissue. The goal of this paper is to provide an understanding of which
molecules are involved in the above processes by discussing their cellular
distribution, counter-receptors, and physiologic function.
