Integrin, alpha L (antigen CD11A (p180), lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1; alpha polypeptide), also known as ITGAL, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''ITGAL''
gene
In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...
. CD11a functions in the immune system. It is involved in cellular adhesion and costimulatory signaling. It is the target of the drug
efalizumab
Efalizumab (brand name Raptiva, Genentech, Merck Serono) is a formerly available medication designed to treat autoimmune diseases, originally marketed to treat psoriasis. As implied by the suffix ''-zumab'', it is a recombinant humanized mon ...
.
Function
''ITGAL'' gene encodes the integrin alpha L chain. Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane proteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain. This I-domain containing alpha integrin combines with the beta 2 chain (ITGB2) to form the integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), which is expressed in all leukocytes. LFA-1 plays a central role in leukocyte intercellular adhesion through interactions with its ligands, ICAMs 1-3 (intercellular adhesion molecules 1 through 3), and also functions in lymphocyte costimulatory signaling.
CD11a is one of the two components, along with
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 ...
, which form
lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1.
Efalizumab
Efalizumab (brand name Raptiva, Genentech, Merck Serono) is a formerly available medication designed to treat autoimmune diseases, originally marketed to treat psoriasis. As implied by the suffix ''-zumab'', it is a recombinant humanized mon ...
acts as an
immunosuppressant
Immunosuppressive drugs, also known as immunosuppressive agents, immunosuppressants and antirejection medications, are drugs that inhibit or prevent the activity of the immune system.
Classification
Immunosuppressive drugs can be classified ...
by binding to CD11a but was withdrawn in 2009 because it was associated with severe side effects.
Interactions
CD11a has been shown to
interact with
ICAM-1
ICAM-1 (Intercellular adhesion molecule, 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 ty ...
.
See also
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CD11c
CD11c, also known as Integrin, alpha X (complement component 3 receptor 4 subunit) (ITGAX), is a gene that encodes for CD11c .
CD11c is an integrin alpha X chain protein. Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane proteins composed of an alp ...
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integrin
Integrins are transmembrane receptors that help 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, o ...
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leukocyte adhesion deficiency
Leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by immunodeficiency resulting in recurrent infections. LAD is currently divided into three subtypes: LAD1, LAD2, and the recently described LAD3, also kno ...
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Cluster of differentiation
The cluster of differentiation (also known as cluster of designation or classification determinant and often abbreviated as CD) is a protocol used for the identification and investigation of cell surface molecules providing targets for immunophe ...
References
Further reading
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External links
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ITGALInfo with links in th
Cell Migration Gateway
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Integrins
Clusters of differentiation
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