Cell adhesion is the process cells interact and attach to a
surface, substrate or another cell, mediated by interactions between molecules of the cell surface. Cell adhesion occurs from the action of transmembrane glycoproteins, called
cell adhesion molecules. Examples of these proteins include
selectins,
integrins,
syndecans, and
cadherins. Cellular adhesion is essential in maintaining
multicellular structure. Cellular adhesion can link cells in different ways and can be involved in
signal transduction. Cell adhesion is also essential for the pathogenesis of infectious organisms.