Description

CD29 (integrin ?-1 / gpIIa) is a cell adhesion molecule appearing on platelets, as the common ? subunit of the very late activation antigen (VLA), and as a component of various protein complexes binding to extracellular matrix proteins. The CD29 is expressed at the cell surface exclusively as part of a heterodimer, in association with one of at least nine different integrin ? subunits (?1 , ?2 , ?3, ?4 , ?5 , ?6, ?7, ?8 , and ?v). With the exception of red blood cells and possible weak expression on granulocytes, CD29 is expressed on nearly all cell and tissue types.