Role of Integrins in Cytokine Signaling

Dear Colleagues,

In the 1980s, integrins were originally identified as receptors for extracellular matrix ligands (e.g., fibronectin and collagen) and cell-surface ligands (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1). In the 1990s, integrin antagonists were shown to block angiogenesis induced by FGF2, suggesting that integrins are critically involved in growth factor signaling. However, the roles of integrins in growth factor signaling were unclear. Soluble proteins (e.g., growth factors and cytokines) have been shown to be integrin ligands by several laboratories, including ours.

In 2007, we identified FGF1 as an integrin ligand through virtual screening of the Protein Data Bank. Interestingly, FGF1 induces the formation of the integrin–FGF1–FGFR complex on the cell surface. Furthermore, an FGF1 mutant with a point mutation in the integrin-binding interface—rendering it defective in integrin binding—fails to form the ternary complex and cannot carry out signaling functions, effectively acting as an antagonist of FGF1 signaling. The number of growth factors and cytokines that require integrin binding has grown significantly. In 2014, we observed that direct binding of cytokines (e.g., CX3CL1) to the second ligand-binding site alters the phenotype of integrins (e.g., activation). These new findings may challenge the current understanding of the biological roles of integrins. This Special Issue aims to encourage further research in these exciting areas of integrin biology.

Prof. Dr. Yoshikazu Takada
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.