Dendritic cell integrin expression patterns regulate inflammation in the rheumatoid arthritis joint.

Objectives: Immune dysregulation contributes to the development of RA. Altered surface expression patterns of integrin adhesion receptors by immune cells is one mechanism by which this may occur. We investigated the role of β2 integrin subunits CD11a and CD11b in dendritic cell (DC) subsets of RA patients.

β Integrins As Regulators of Dendritic Cell, Monocyte, and Macrophage Function.

Emerging evidence suggests that the β integrin family of adhesion molecules have an important role in suppressing immune activation and inflammation. β integrins are important adhesion and signaling molecules that are exclusively expressed on leukocytes. The four β integrins (CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, and CD11d paired with the β chain CD18) play important roles in regulating three key aspects of immune cell function: recruitment to sites of inflammation; cell-cell contact formation; and downstream effects on cellular signaling.