Integrins: structure, biological functions and relevance in viral chronic hepatitis

The integrin family represents the largest group of cell surface proteins that mediate cell adhesion in humans [1,2]. Adhesion is of fundamental importance to a cell as it provides anchorage, cues for migration and a signal for growth and differentiation. There are two different types of cell adhesion: cell‐extracellular matrix adhesion and cell‐cell adhesion. Integrins appear to be the major receptors by which cells attach to extracellular matrices. In addition, some integrins also mediate important cell‐cell adhesion events. The term ‘integrin’ was coined in order to signify the presumed role of these proteins in integrating the intracellular cytoskeleton with the extracellular matrix.