整合素家族是一类普遍存在于低等真核生物到高等哺乳动物细胞表面的异二聚体跨膜蛋白,可介导细胞与细胞间、细胞与细胞外基质的连接.整合素与其配体的相互作用在调节细胞运动、分化与存活等方面发挥重要作用,同时它们在肾脏发育、肾脏疾病的发生、发展中扮演重要角色.整合素的表达和功能异常与肾病综合征、急性肾损伤、局灶节段性肾小球硬化、糖尿病肾病和多囊肾病等肾脏疾病密切相关.
The integrins are a family of hetemdimeric receptors existing ubiquitously on the surface of mammalian cells as well as lower eukaryotes including sponges, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the fruiffly Drosophila melanogaster. They mediate cell to cell interactions, as well as the attachment of cells to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Integrins play important roles in the regulations of cell death, proliferation, migration and differentiation. They also play important roles in kidney development and pathological processes. Their abnormal expressions and dysfunctions are closely related to ncphrotic syndrome, acute kidney injury, focal segmental glomerulosclemsis, diatetic nephropathy and polycystic kidney disease.