Cellular adhesion

Definition

Cellular adhesion refers to the process by which cells interact and attach to neighboring cells or the extracellular matrix through specialized protein structures known as cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). This process is crucial for maintaining tissue structure, facilitating communication between cells, and enabling various cellular functions, including muscle contraction and cell motility.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cellular adhesion is vital for tissue formation, as it helps cells stick together and form organized structures like muscles and organs.
2. During muscle contraction, cellular adhesion allows for the coordination of contractions among muscle fibers through junctions called intercalated discs in cardiac muscle.
3. Cell motility relies on cellular adhesion mechanisms; cells must detach from their original location before moving to a new one, requiring precise regulation of adhesion molecules.
4. Disruption of cellular adhesion can lead to diseases such as cancer, where cancer cells gain the ability to detach and migrate away from the primary tumor site.
5. Cellular adhesion is influenced by various factors, including the type of CAMs expressed on the cell surface, the presence of signaling molecules, and the mechanical properties of the ECM.

Review Questions

• How does cellular adhesion contribute to muscle contraction and what are the implications for muscle tissue integrity?
  • Cellular adhesion plays a crucial role in muscle contraction by allowing muscle fibers to remain connected through specialized structures like intercalated discs. These discs contain gap junctions that enable electrical signals to pass quickly between adjacent fibers, ensuring synchronized contractions. If cellular adhesion is compromised, it can lead to weakened muscle tissue and impaired function, affecting overall strength and coordination.
• Discuss how alterations in cellular adhesion molecules can affect cell motility during wound healing processes.
  • Alterations in cellular adhesion molecules can significantly impact cell motility during wound healing. For effective healing, cells such as fibroblasts need to migrate into the wound site, where they must first detach from surrounding tissues. Changes in CAM expression can either enhance or inhibit this detachment and migration process. For instance, increased expression of integrins may promote stronger attachment to the ECM, facilitating movement toward the wound area while ensuring proper tissue repair.
• Evaluate the relationship between cellular adhesion disruptions and cancer metastasis, including potential therapeutic approaches.
  • Disruptions in cellular adhesion are pivotal in cancer metastasis since they allow tumor cells to detach from the primary tumor and invade surrounding tissues or enter the bloodstream. This loss of adhesion is often due to decreased expression or function of cadherins and integrins. Targeting these adhesion pathways presents potential therapeutic avenues; for example, enhancing cadherin function could prevent metastasis by keeping cancer cells anchored in place. Understanding these mechanisms offers insights into developing strategies to inhibit metastatic spread effectively.

Related terms

Integrins:

Integrins are a family of cell adhesion receptors that facilitate cell-extracellular matrix adhesion and play a critical role in transmitting signals between the extracellular environment and the inside of the cell.

Cadherins: Cadherins are a class of CAMs that mediate homophilic cell-cell adhesion, meaning they promote adhesion between similar types of cells, which is essential for tissue integrity and development.

Extracellular Matrix (ECM): The ECM is a complex network of proteins and carbohydrates that provide structural support to surrounding cells and facilitates communication and adhesion between them.