Cells must interpret a complex milieu of extracellular cues to modulate intracellular signaling events linked to proliferation, differentiation, migration and other cellular processes. Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane proteins that link the extracellular matrix (ECM) to the cytoskeleton and control intracellular signaling events. A great deal is known about the structural and functional properties for most integrins; however, the adhesion and signaling pathways controlled by αvβ8 integrin, which was discovered nearly 30 years ago, have only recently been characterized. αvβ8 integrin is a receptor for ECM-bound forms of latent transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) proteins and promotes the activation of TGFβ signaling pathways. Studies of the brain, lung and immune system reveal that the αvβ8 integrin-TGFβ axis mediates cell-cell contact and communication within complex multicellular structures. Perturbing components of this axis results in aberrant cell-cell adhesion and signaling leading to the initiation of various pathologies, including neurodegeneration, fibrosis and cancer. As discussed in this Review, understanding the functions for αvβ8 integrin, its ECM ligands and intracellular effector proteins is not only an important topic in cell biology, but may lead to new therapeutic strategies to treat human pathologies related to integrin dysfunction.

中文翻译：

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αvβ8 整合素粘附和信号通路在发育、生理和疾病中的作用。

细胞必须解释细胞外线索的复杂环境，以调节与增殖、分化、迁移和其他细胞过程相关的细胞内信号事件。整合素是异二聚体跨膜蛋白，可将细胞外基质 (ECM) 连接到细胞骨架并控制细胞内信号事件。大多数整联蛋白的结构和功能特性已为人所知。然而，近 30 年前发现的 αvβ8 整合素控制的粘附和信号通路直到最近才被表征。αvβ8 整联蛋白是 ECM 结合形式的潜在转化生长因子 β (TGFβ) 蛋白的受体，可促进 TGFβ 信号通路的激活。大脑的研究，肺和免疫系统表明，αvβ8 整合素-TGFβ 轴介导复杂多细胞结构内的细胞-细胞接触和通讯。该轴的扰动成分导致异常的细胞-细胞粘附和信号传导，从而引发各种病理，包括神经变性、纤维化和癌症。正如本综述中所讨论的，了解 αvβ8 整合素、其 ECM 配体和细胞内效应蛋白的功能不仅是细胞生物学中的一个重要课题，而且可能会导致治疗与整合素功能障碍相关的人类病理学的新治疗策略。