The Role of Integrin-Mediated Cell Adhesion in Atherosclerosis: Pathophysiology and Clinical Opportunities

Integrins have been reported to mediate cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and migration programs. For this reason, the past few years have seen an increased interest in the implications of integrin receptors in atherosclerosis. This review considers the potential role of integrins in atherosclerosis and also addresses why integrins present attractive targets for drug design. It discusses the properties of the integrin-based chemotherapeutic agents currently under consideration clinically and endeavours to provide insights into development of cardiovascular drugs using integrins as targets.