In fully developed animals, these molecules play an integral role in generating force and movement and consequently ensuring that organs are able to execute their functions normally.
[3] In addition to serving as "molecular glue", CAMs play important roles in the cellular mechanisms of growth, contact inhibition, and apoptosis.
[citation needed] Integrins, one of the major classes of receptors within the ECM,[9] mediate cell–ECM interactions with collagen, fibrinogen, fibronectin, and vitronectin.
[10] Integrins provide essential links between the extracellular environment and the intracellular signalling pathways, which can play roles in cell behaviours such as apoptosis, differentiation, survival, and transcription.
[16] However, extracellular Ca2+ binding may exert different effects depending on the type of integrin and the cation concentration.
The distinct temporal and spatial localization of cadherins implicates these molecules as major players in the process of synaptic stabilization.
The diverse family of cadherins include epithelial (E-cadherins), placental (P-cadherins), neural (N-cadherins), retinal (R-cadherins), brain (B-cadherins and T-cadherins), and muscle (M-cadherins).
[19] The selectins are a family of heterophilic CAMs that are dependent on fucosylated carbohydrates, e.g., mucins for binding.
Selectins have been implicated in several roles but they are especially important in the immune system by helping white blood cell homing and trafficking.
CAM function in cancer metastasis, inflammation, and thrombosis makes it a viable therapeutic target that is currently being considered.
For example, they block the metastatic cancer cells' ability to extravasate and home to secondary sites.
In mice, when antibodies directed against CAMs in the lung endothelium were used as treatment there was a significant reduction in the number of metastatic sites.