The specificity, homogeneity, and ability to be produced in unlimited amounts have made monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) an extremely useful tool for the study of a great variety of molecules involved in cellular adhesion phenomena. In many cases, the detailed biochemical and functional characterization of members of the integrin, selectin, immunoglobulin, and cadherin families of adhesion receptors, and their specific cellular and tissue distribution have only been made possible through the development and use of specific MAbs to these molecules.
