β1 integrins mediate resistance to ionizing radiation in vivo by inhibiting c-Jun amino terminal kinase 1.

This study was carried out to dissect the mechanism by which β1 integrins promote resistance to radiation. For this purpose, we conditionally ablated β1 integrins in the prostatic epithelium of transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice. The ability of β1 to promote resistance to radiation was also analyzed by using an inhibitory antibody to β1 , AIIB2, in a xenograft model.

The integrin-growth factor receptor duet.

Cell adhesion receptors, referred to as integrins, are recognized as key regulators of cellular processes including growth and differentiation. Integrins communicate with growth factor receptors (GFRs) to control specific cellular responses to stimuli originating in the extracellular environment. In this article, we review the role of integrins as molecular switches that modulate GFR activation and specificity.