What are the Implications of Cell Adhesion in Disease?
Dysregulation of cell adhesion can lead to various diseases:
Cancer - Aberrant expression of CAMs can lead to tumor metastasis, as cancer cells lose adhesion to the primary tumor and migrate to other parts of the body. Inflammatory diseases - Altered CAM expression can result in inappropriate immune cell adhesion, contributing to chronic inflammation. Genetic disorders - Mutations in genes encoding CAMs can cause congenital conditions affecting tissue integrity, such as epidermolysis bullosa.
