This volume provides the most cutting edge technologies related to the study of integrin activation and the characterization of their vast interactomes. Chapters detail protocols on experimental approached to quantify focal adhesion parameters, integrin activation, and the lateral interaction of integrins with transmembrane binding partners. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, The Integrin Interactome: Methods and Protocols aims to give the reader a multi-scale journey from single bonds inside protein structures to the function of these crucial adhesion receptors at a whole organism level in physiology and pathology.

This updated edition is a comprehensive treatise that spans the complete range of basic biochemistry of bone and cartilage components to the clinical evaluation of disease markers in bone and joint disorders. With contributions from over 75 international experts, Dynamics of Bone and Cartilage Metabolism, Second Edition, is indispensable reading for those involved in skeletal research as well as for rheumatologists, endocrinologists, clinical biochemists, and other clinical disciplines participating in the management of patients with bone and cartilage diseases. - Part I provides an up-to-date account of current knowledge of the structure, biosynthesis and molecular biology of the major tissue components - Part II covers the organizational structure and cellular metabolism of bone and cartilage - Part III deals with the utility of components specific to bone and cartilage as biomarkers of health and disease

Cell adhesion is essential for the organization of multicellular organisms. Indeed, various types of cell adhesion receptors, including cadherins and integrins, are present in animals ranging from nematodes and insects to vertebrates. In this book, we focus on the integrin family, which is shared among all metazoans, but has expanded considerably with vertebrate evolution. Since the cloning of the first integrin subunit, some twenty years ago, integrin biology has been—and still is—a topic of intense study. Integrin-mediated adhesion is a regulated process that, in turn, regulates the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. Moreover, it has become clear from in vitro analyses that integrin-mediated adhesion can affect virtually all aspects of cellular behavior—including polarity, motility, proliferation, survival, and differentiation. This book aims to provide an extensive overview of the current knowledge about the regulation of developmental processes as well as the maintenance of proper tissue function, by integrin-mediated adhesion. In addition, key aspects of integrin cell biology are discussed. Chapter 1 of this book is meant as an introduction in integrin biology and is followed by a more in-depth discussion of the roles that integrins play in extracellular matrix assembly, in cell migration, and in the regulation of intracellular signaling cascades (Chapters 2-4). Subsequently, Chapters 5 and 6 discuss what has been learned about the role of integrins and associated proteins in animal development from genetic analysis of two invertebrates— the flatworm, C. elegans and the fruit fly, D. melanogaster. The relatively limited number of genes encoding adhesion-related proteins and the relative ease and speed with which genetic experiments can be performed in these animals, have allowed researchers to study the basic principles of integrin biology in vivo. Finally, Chapters 7-14 discuss how integrin-mediated adhesion regulates the development and functionality of the different mammalian organ systems, based to a large extent on (conditional) gene knockout studies in mice and on studies in human patients.

This publication presents a collection of essays that reflect current research and technical advances in extracellular matrix field, which has undergone remarkable expansion since publication of Volume 82 of 'Methods in Enzymology' in 1982.

The integrin family is composed of 24 members and approximately ten years ago (2003) we published a book devoted to the nine I domain integrin subunits. In this second edition, I am pleased that most of the original authors have been able to contribute to the updated version. I domain containing integrins include collagen receptors and leukocyte receptors. In 2003 the knockout mouse phenotypes for all of the I domain integrins had not yet been published; they are now, and are summarized and discussed in this edition. Interestingly, a recent 10 integrin mutation in dogs has indicated that collagen-binding integrins in the musculoskeletal system might have much more severe phenotypes in larger animals/humans compared to the mild integrin phenotypes observed in collagen-binding integrin deficient mice. This finding is further discussed in the book. In the cancer field, the microenvironment is taking center stage, and here collagen receptors on fibroblasts are predicted to play important roles in paracrine signaling, in regulating tissue stiffness and matrix remodeling. New technologies, new mouse models in combination with analyses of I integrins in larger animals/humans are thus predicted to increase our knowledge about this group of receptors. With this in mind we look forward to another 10 years of research with I domain integrins.

The Second Edition of Asthma and COPD: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Management continues to provide a unique and authoritative comparison of asthma and COPD. Written and edited by the world's leading experts, it continues to be a comprehensive review of the most recent understanding of the basic mechanisms of both conditions, specifically comparing their etiology, pathogenesis, and treatments. * Each chapter considers Asthma and COPD in side-by-side contrast and comparison – not in isolation - in the context of mechanism, triggers, assessments, therapies, and clinical management * Presents the latest and most comprehensive understandings of the mechanisms of inflammation in both Asthma and COPD * Most extensive reference to primary literature on both Asthma and COPD in one source. * Easy-to-read summaries of the latest advances alongside clear illustrations

This comprehensive account of the human herpesviruses provides an encyclopedic overview of their basic virology and clinical manifestations. This group of viruses includes human simplex type 1 and 2, Epstein–Barr virus, Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, cytomegalovirus, HHV6A, 6B and 7, and varicella-zoster virus. The viral diseases and cancers they cause are significant and often recurrent. Their prevalence in the developed world accounts for a major burden of disease, and as a result there is a great deal of research into the pathophysiology of infection and immunobiology. Another important area covered within this volume concerns antiviral therapy and the development of vaccines. All these aspects are covered in depth, both scientifically and in terms of clinical guidelines for patient care. The text is illustrated generously throughout and is fully referenced to the latest research and developments.