Integrin alpha 2 beta 1 promotes activation of protein phosphatase 2A and dephosphorylation of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta.

The integrins are a large family of heterodimeric transmembrane receptors composed of α and β subunits (22). In addition to mediating cell-matrix interactions, integrins have been shown to activate intracellular signaling pathways which, in collaboration with growth factor-induced signals, regulate cellular functions (46). Some integrin signaling cascades are activated via the β subunit cytoplasmic domain, and they are therefore triggered by several integrin heterodimers. These signals include the activation of protein tyrosine kinases of the Src and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) families (9, 47). More-recent studies have revealed signaling events that are activated specifically by an α subun…