Integrins are group of
cell surface receptors, which mediate adhesion between cell-cell and cell-
extracellular matrix proteins of the basement membrane.
Integrins play an important role in cellular growth, development, morphology, signalling and also in
tumor development. Among the
integrin group of
cell surface receptors one of the most important member is alpha(v)
beta3 integrin receptor. Evidences say that the expression of this
integrin receptor is regulated during
tumor development. Large numbers of studies have been done to establish the role of alpha(v)
beta3 integrin receptor in human
melanoma systems. Expression of this receptor in metastatic but not benign
melanomas suggests a role for this
integrin in the regulation of
tumor proliferation. Alpha(v)
beta3 integrin receptor also plays a significant role in
tumor angiogenesis, apoptosis and signal transduction process. Recent studies show that
collagenase MMP-2 binds directly to
integrin alpha(v)beta3 on the surface of invasive
tumor cells and facilitates
tumor cell invasion. In this present communication we studied the expression of alpha(v)
beta3 integrin receptor in malignant and non-malignant cervical
tumor tissues. Because receptor
ligand interaction is a cell surface phenomenon the membrane fraction of
tumor tissues was separated and the expression of alpha(v)
beta3 integrin receptor was assayed by ELISA and immunoprecipitation from membrane extracted
protein fraction. Comparative ELISA and immunoprecipitation clearly demonstrates much higher expression of alpha(v)beta3
vitronectin integrin receptor in the membrane fraction of malignant human cervical
tumor tissues than nonmalignant tissue membrane fractions.