Vitronectin receptors in vascular disorders.

Various integrin antagonist candidates, including antibodies, cyclic peptides, peptidomimetics and non-peptides, have been clinically evaluated and have been shown to successfully modulate certain disease processes. The most advanced integrin antagonists in clinical development include intravenous platelet alphaIIb/beta3 integrin antagonists, leukocyte alpha4/beta1 integrin antagonists and vascular alpha v/beta3 antagonists. This review will focus on the key role of the alpha v integrin (alpha v/beta3 and alpha v/beta5) in vascular disorders, such as angiogenesis-mediated disorders and vascular restenosis.