Figure 6. Schematic illustration of the corneal adhesion complex

Integrin α3β1 is located intercellularly or at the cell-matrix junction and forms focal adhesions. Integrin α6β4 is only located at the cell-matrix junction and forms adhesions with hemidesmosomes. Laminin 5 and collagen VII are essential components of, respectively, the lamina lucida and the lamina densa of the basement membrane (BM). The BM is anchored to the underlying Bowman's layer by collagen VII fibrils. Diseases associated with abnormalities in each type of adhesion molecule are listed in parentheses: epithelial basement membrane dystrophy (EBMD), laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK), recurrent corneal erosion (RCE).