The integrins are a superfamily of cell adhesion receptors that bind to extracellular matrix ligands, cell-surface ligands, and soluble ligands (PMID: 17543136). They are transmembrane αβ heterodimers and at least 24 distinct integrin heterodimers are formed by the combination of 18 α and eight β known subunits (PMID: 17543136; 20029421). In addition to mediating cell adhesion, integrins also play important roles in modulating signal transduction pathways that control cellular responses including migration, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis (PMID:19118207). Integrin alpha 6 (ITGA6, also known as CD49f or VLA-6) is a 120-kDa single-pass type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein, which combines with the beta 1 subunit (ITGB1, CD29) or beta 4 subunit (ITGB4, CD104) to form heterodimeric laminin receptors (PMID: 1976638; 2351695). Integrin alpha 6 mediates cell-to-cell and cell-to-stroma adhesion. It has also been found in many different stem cell populations and is involved in homing and connecting stem cells to their niches and regulating self-renewal mechanisms in stem cells (PMID: 28494695).