CD11a Antibody / LFA-1

CD11a, also known as ITGAL or LFA-1, is a human gene which functions in the immune system. It is mapped to 16p11.2. CD11a is involved in cellular adhesion and costimulatory signaling. It is the target of the drug efalizumab. CD11a encodes the integrin alpha L chain. Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane proteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain. This I-domain containing alpha integrin combines with the beta 2 chain (ITGB2) to form the integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), which is expressed on all leukocytes. CD11a plays a central role in leukocyte intercellular adhesion through interactions with its ligands, ICAMs 1-3 (intercellular adhesion molecules 1 through 3), and also functions in lymphocyte costimulatory signaling. It is one of the two components, along with CD18, which form lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1.