Background of the antigen
Cell adhesion leukocyte receptor expressed by mucosal venules, helps to direct lymphocyte traffic into mucosal tissues including the Peyer patches and the intestinal lamina propria. It can bind both integrin alpha-4/beta-7 and L-selectin, regulating both the passage and retention of leukocytes. Isoform 2, lacking the mucin-like domain, may be specialized in supporting integrin alpha-4/beta-7-dependent adhesion strengthening, independent of L-selectin binding.
