The monoclonal antibody BV3 recognizes human alpha-V/beta-3 integrin present on human cells.Integrins are a superfamily of αβ heterodimeric cell-surface adhesion receptors found in manyspecies. They are expressed on a variety of cells and mediate numerous physiological processes,including inflammation, migration, adhesion and proliferation. The β3 family consist of 2 members:αIIbβ3 and αvβ3, which mediate cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions and are important for cellularmigration, regulation of gene expression, cell survival, adhesion and differentiation. All processeswhich are involved in tissue development, angiogenesis and thrombosis. Each subunit consist of anextracellular domain, a single transmembrane segment and a cytoplasmic tail. They connect to theactin cytoskeleton via adaptor proteins that bind theircytoplasmic tails. Cell matrix adhesions also actas signaling units by their capacity to organize the actin cytoskeleton and to accumulate varioussignaling intermediates. Integrin αvβ3 was originally identified as the vitronectin receptor.Nevertheless, other ligands include fibrinogen, fibronectin, laminin, thrombospondin, Von Willebrandfactor, tenascin, osteopontin and several forms of collagen. The interactions of integrin αvβ3 to thoseligands is mediated by the RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) sequence motif present in these proteins. Deregulationof β3 integrins is involved in e.g. autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disorders, transplant rejectionand tumorigenesis. In contribution to the latter, integrin αvβ3 contribute by supporting growth of small(tumor) blood vessels thereby potentiating the metastatic potential. Overexpression of integrin αvβ3has been demonstrated in various tumors and activated endothelium.