Integrin Protocols

Book excerpt: In Integrin Protocols, Anthony Howlett and a distinguished panel of experimentalists describe in detail a series of cutting-edge methods for dissecting the role of integrins in biological processes. This wide-ranging collection includes protocols for the analysis of integrin expression-at both the RNA and protein levels-and for elucidating the functional properties of integrins, including those at the cellular level. Each method provides step-by-step instructions for easy reproducibility, along with extensive notes about potential pitfalls, and tips on how to avoid failure. The emphasis is always on the practical steps necessary for experimental success and robust results. Offering powerful tools for understanding how integrins regulate cell growth, differentiation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, as well as how abnormalities of integrin expression and function may be implicated in various pathologic conditions, Integrin Protocols constitutes a gold-standard collection of techniques for both new and experienced investigators of the molecular and cellular basis of cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disorders, and cancer.