This gene encodes a member of the integrin alpha chain family of proteins. The encoded preproprotein is proteolytically processed to generate light and heavy chains that associate through disulfide linkages to form a subunit of the alpha-IIb/beta-3 integrin cell adhesion receptor. This receptor plays a crucial role in the blood coagulation system, by mediating platelet aggregation. Mutations in this gene are associated with platelet-type bleeding disorders, which are characterized by a failure of platelet aggregation, including Glanzmann thrombasthenia. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2016]
Forensic Context
A study in humans demonstrated that the ITGA2B gene was upregulated in circulating leukocytes from adult burn patients with burn sizes exceeding 40% total body surface area, showing a fold change of 2.05 [Sood et al. DOI:10.0000000000000905]. Another study in humans found that the ITGA2B mRNA was upregulated in circulating platelets during sepsis and in lipopolysaccharide-activated MEG-01 megakaryoblastic cell cultures [Szilágyi et al. DOI:10.3390/ijms21030866].