The three KINDLINs are a novel family of focal adhesion proteins, localizing to integrin adhesion sites. The KINDLIN proteins are composed of a centrally located FERM domain interrupted by a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. KINDLIN1 and KINDLIN2 have been shown to play an essential role in integrin-mediated adhesion and spreading. In contrast to the widely expressed KINDLIN1 and KINDLIN2, KINDLIN3 is restricted to hematopoietic cells and is particularly abundant in megakaryocytes and platelets. Several reports describe a transcriptional misregulation of KINDLINs in various types of cancer. A recent study demonstrates that KINDLIN3 is essential for platelet integrin activation and subsequent integrin outside-in signaling, suggesting it may serve as a potential target for the design of therapeutics aimed at specifically disrupting integrin activation in platelets and leukocytes.
Intended for research use only. Not for use in human, therapeutic, or diagnostic applications.