1. A family of cell-surface proteins that mediate adhesion between cells and between cells and the extracellular matrix; involved in cell signaling and tissue integrity.
Usage: technical; biology; usually plural

Examples

• Integrins play a crucial role in allowing cells to attach to the surrounding tissue.
• The interaction between integrins and extracellular matrix proteins is essential for wound healing.
• Researchers study integrins to understand how cancer cells spread throughout the body.
• Integrins transmit signals from outside the cell to the inside, affecting cell behavior and survival.
• Mutations affecting integrins can lead to various genetic disorders affecting skin and blood cells.