C-CAM (CELL-CAM-105) - A MEMBER OF THE GROWING IMMUNOGLOBULIN SUPERFAMILY OF CELL-ADHESION PROTEINS

Cell recognition and adhesion, being of prime importance for the formation and integrity of tissues, are mediated by cell adhesion molecules, which can be divided into several distinct protein superfamilies. The cell adhesion molecule C-CAM (cell-CAM 105) belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily, and more specifically is a member of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene family. C-CAM can mediate adhesion between hepatocytes in vitro in a homophilic, calcium-independent binding reaction. The molecule, which occurs in various isoforms, is expressed in liver, several epithelia, vessel endothelia, platelets and granulocytes and its expression is dynamically regulated under various physiological and pathological conditions. It is proposed that C-CAM in different cells and tissues plays different functional roles, where the common denominator is membrane-membrane binding.