Apoptosis: conserved roles for integrins in clearance

Curr Biol. 2010 Apr 13;20(7):R324-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2010.02.043.

Abstract

A recent study shows that one of the two known Caenorhabditis elegans homologs of the mammalian integrin alpha subunit plays an essential role in the clearance of apoptotic cells - efferocytosis - during nematode development. These new findings reveal that integrins have evolutionarily conserved functions in efferocytosis in metazoans.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / cytology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology
  • Humans
  • Integrin alpha Chains / genetics
  • Integrin alpha Chains / physiology
  • Integrins / genetics
  • Integrins / physiology*
  • Models, Biological
  • Phagocytosis / physiology
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Integrin alpha Chains
  • Integrins