Description
Mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1), an immunoglobulin, is a membrane-bound receptor expressed on high endothelial venules, promoting the migration of immune cells from the bloodstream to gut-associated mucosal tissues via interaction with alpha4beta7 integrin. Beginning from its N terminus, two IgSF domains, a mucin-like region, a transmembrane domain, and a 43-residue cytoplasmic domain define the structure of MAdCAM-1. While expression of MAdCAM-1 is upregulated under acute and chronic inflammatory conditions like in inflammatory bowel disease, its deficiency resulted in decreased production of ConA-induced proinflammatory mediators. In a promising cancer study, an anti-MAdCAM-1 antibody reduced the number of migrating CD8+, CD68+ and CD163+ immune cells and suppressed IL-6/p-STAT3 and TNF-alpha/NF-kappaB pathway expression in mice, thus reducing colon carcinogenesis and tumor aggressiveness