molecular biology Molecular biology is the branch of biology that seeks to understand the molecular basis of biological activity in and between cells, including biomolecular synthesis, modification, mechanisms, and interactions. The study of chemical and physi ...

, intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) are part of the

immunoglobulin superfamily The immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) is a large protein superfamily of cell surface and soluble proteins that are involved in the recognition, binding, or adhesion processes of cells. Molecules are categorized as members of this superfamily ...

. They are important in

inflammation Inflammation (from la, wikt:en:inflammatio#Latin, inflammatio) is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or Irritation, irritants, and is a protective response involving im ...

immune response An immune response is a reaction which occurs within an organism for the purpose of defending against foreign invaders. These invaders include a wide variety of different microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which could ...

s and in

intracellular This glossary of biology terms is a list of definitions of fundamental terms and concepts used in biology, the study of life and of living organisms. It is intended as introductory material for novices; for more specific and technical definitions ...

signalling In signal processing, a signal is a function that conveys information about a phenomenon. Any quantity that can vary over space or time can be used as a signal to share messages between observers. The ''IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing'' ...

events. The ICAM family consists of five members, designated ICAM-1 to ICAM-5. They are known to bind to leucocyte

integrins Integrins are transmembrane receptors that facilitate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion. Upon ligand binding, integrins activate signal transduction pathways that mediate cellular signals such as regulation of the cell cycle, ...

CD11 In cell biology, CD11 is the α (alpha) component of various integrins, especially ones in which the β (beta) component is CD18 (β2) and mediate leukocyte adhesion. For example, * LFA1 ( CD11a/ CD18) short representation of ''Lymphocyte Functi ...

CD18 In molecular biology, CD18 (Integrin beta chain-2) is an integrin beta chain protein that is encoded by the ''ITGB2'' gene in humans. Upon binding with one of a number of alpha chains, CD18 is capable of forming multiple heterodimers, which play ...

such as

LFA-1 Lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) is an integrin found on lymphocytes and other leukocytes. LFA-1 plays a key role in emigration, which is the process by which leukocytes leave the bloodstream to enter the tissues. LFA-1 also mediates ...

and

Macrophage-1 antigen Macrophage-1 antigen (or integrin αMβ2 or macrophage integrin or Mac-1) is a complement receptor ("CR3") consisting of CD11b (integrin αM) and CD18 (integrin β2). The integrin α chain is noncovalently bound to the integrin β chain. It binds ...

, during

and in immune responses. In addition, ICAMs may exist in soluble forms in

human Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, ...

plasma Plasma or plasm may refer to: Science * Plasma (physics), one of the four fundamental states of matter * Plasma (mineral), a green translucent silica mineral * Quark–gluon plasma, a state of matter in quantum chromodynamics Biology * Blood pla ...

, due to activation and

proteolysis Proteolysis is the breakdown of proteins into smaller polypeptides or amino acids. Uncatalysed, the hydrolysis of peptide bonds is extremely slow, taking hundreds of years. Proteolysis is typically catalysed by cellular enzymes called protease ...

mechanisms at

cell Cell most often refers to: * Cell (biology), the functional basic unit of life Cell may also refer to: Locations * Monastic cell, a small room, hut, or cave in which a religious recluse lives, alternatively the small precursor of a monastery ...

surfaces. Mammalian intercellular adhesion molecules include: *

ICAM-1 ICAM-1 (Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1) also known as CD54 (Cluster of Differentiation 54) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''ICAM1'' gene. This gene encodes a cell surface glycoprotein which is typically expressed on endothelial ...

ICAM2 Intercellular adhesion molecule 2 (ICAM2), also known as CD102 (Cluster of Differentiation 102), is a human gene, and the protein resulting from it. Protein structure The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the intercellular adhesion mol ...

ICAM3 Intercellular adhesion molecule 3 (ICAM3) also known as CD50 (Cluster of Differentiation 50), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''ICAM3'' gene. The protein is constitutively expressed on the surface of leukocytes, which are also called ...

ICAM4 The LW blood system was first described by Landsteiner and Wiener in 1940. It was often confused with the Rh system, not becoming a separate antigen system until 1982. The LW and RhD antigens are genetically independent though they are phenotyp ...

ICAM5 Intercellular adhesion molecule 5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''ICAM5'' gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) family. All ICAM proteins are type I transmembrane glycopro ...

References

Cell biology Protein families {{Biochem-stub