Figure 5.

A model for αv integrin-mediated regulation of epithelial proliferation and homeostasis. αv integrins expressed in basal epithelial cells of the conjunctiva and eyelid skin bind to the latent forms of TGFβ1 and 3 (latent associated peptide-TGFβ1/3) in the epidermal basement membrane. Integrin binding leads to activation of TGFβ signaling and suppression of epithelial cell proliferation, likely via an autocrine loop. Genetic ablation of αv integrin expression in basal epithelia causes dysregulation of TGFβ growth inhibition, leading to epithelial cell hyperplasia and tumor progression.