Cell adhesion

Definition

Cell adhesion refers to the process by which cells interact and attach to neighboring cells or extracellular matrix components through specific proteins on their surfaces. This phenomenon is crucial for the maintenance of tissue structure, function, and integrity, playing a vital role in processes such as wound healing, tissue regeneration, and overall cellular communication.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cell adhesion is essential for the formation and maintenance of multicellular organisms, enabling cells to form tissues and organs.
2. Adhesion molecules play a critical role in cell signaling, influencing processes like proliferation, differentiation, and migration.
3. The interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix is important for regulating various cellular functions and responding to mechanical stimuli.
4. In regenerative medicine, enhancing cell adhesion can improve the integration of transplanted cells or tissues into the host environment.
5. Abnormal cell adhesion can contribute to diseases such as cancer, where changes in adhesion properties allow tumor cells to invade surrounding tissues.

Review Questions

• How does cell adhesion impact tissue structure and function?
  • Cell adhesion is fundamental to maintaining tissue structure and function because it allows cells to form cohesive units that work together. Through interactions with adhesion molecules, cells communicate with each other and their environment, which is vital for processes like tissue integrity, repair, and regeneration. Disruptions in cell adhesion can lead to weakened tissues and compromised organ function.
• Discuss the role of adhesion molecules in cellular signaling during tissue engineering applications.
  • Adhesion molecules are crucial in tissue engineering as they not only mediate attachment but also facilitate cellular signaling pathways that influence cell behavior. These molecules help in guiding cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration within engineered tissues. By selecting appropriate biomaterials that mimic natural ECM components, researchers can enhance the effectiveness of tissue scaffolds through improved cell adhesion and signaling.
• Evaluate how abnormalities in cell adhesion contribute to the progression of diseases like cancer.
  • Abnormalities in cell adhesion can significantly impact disease progression, particularly in cancer. Changes in the expression or functionality of adhesion molecules can enable tumor cells to detach from primary sites, invade surrounding tissues, and metastasize to distant organs. This loss of normal adhesive interactions disrupts the regulatory mechanisms that typically prevent uncontrolled cell migration and growth, facilitating cancer progression.

Related terms

Extracellular Matrix (ECM): A complex network of proteins and carbohydrates that provides structural and biochemical support to surrounding cells.

Adhesion Molecules: Proteins located on the cell surface that mediate cell-to-cell or cell-to-matrix adhesion, such as cadherins and integrins.

Tissue Engineering: An interdisciplinary field that aims to repair, regenerate, or replace damaged tissues or organs using a combination of cells, biomaterials, and suitable biochemical factors.