The LFA-1, Mac-1 glycoprotein family and its deficiency in an inherited disease

A family of functionally important, high-molecular-weight glycoproteins with identical beta subunits has recently been defined on leukocyte cell surfaces. Soon after these molecules and at least some of their functions had been defined with monoclonal antibodies, an inherited disease, LFA-1, Mac-1 deficiency, was discovered in humans. This deficiency has confirmed that this glycoprotein family is of central importance in leukocyte cell surface adhesion reactions.