ITGAX

ITGAX Full Name

integrin, alpha X (complement component 3 receptor 4 subunit)

ITGAX Introduction

ITGAX, also known as integrin alpha X or CD11c, is a transmembrane adhesion molecule primarily expressed on myeloid lineage cells such as dendritic cells, macrophages, and certain subsets of monocytes. As part of the CD11c/CD18 (αXβ2) integrin complex, ITGAX plays a central role in cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions, regulating immune cell adhesion, migration, and tissue infiltration. Because abnormal immune infiltration and tumor–immune interactions are recurring challenges in both oncology and inflammatory disease research, ITGAX has attracted increasing attention as a marker that links immune regulation with disease progression, particularly in solid tumors and immune-mediated tissue injury.

Functionally, ITGAX is involved in signaling pathways that influence immune activation, polarization, and cellular plasticity. Recent mechanistic studies have expanded its relevance beyond classical immunology into cancer biology. Notably, ITGAX expression has been shown to be significantly upregulated in gastric cancer, where it actively promotes tumor progression by driving epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key process underlying invasion and metastasis. Elevated ITGAX levels correlate positively with unfavorable clinical outcomes, highlighting its potential value as an early diagnostic indicator and prognostic biomarker. Parallel bioinformatics-driven studies in clear cell renal cell carcinoma have independently identified ITGAX as a candidate hub gene, suggesting that its functional impact may be conserved across different tumor microenvironments and warrants deeper experimental validation.

Beyond oncology, ITGAX also plays a critical role in inflammatory regulation and immune cell differentiation. Downregulation of ITGAX has been shown to attenuate LPS-induced acute liver injury by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation and modulating macrophage M1 polarization through the DNMT1/PPAR-γ axis, positioning ITGAX as a promising therapeutic target in inflammatory diseases. In developmental immunology, single-cell profiling of airway samples from premature neonates has identified ITGAX as a defining marker of alveolar macrophage subsets, revealing its importance in early-life lung immune differentiation. Together, these findings underscore ITGAX as a multifunctional target at the intersection of cancer progression, immune dysregulation, and tissue-specific disease mechanisms, with strong translational relevance for biomarker discovery and targeted intervention strategies.

Alternate Names for ITGAX

ITGAX; integrin, alpha X (complement component 3 receptor 4 subunit); CD11C; SLEB6; integrin alpha-X; leu M5, alpha subunit; p150 95 integrin alpha chain; CD11 antigen-like family member C; leukocyte adhesion receptor p150,95; myeloid membrane antigen, alpha subunit

• 1.Hu J, et al.;ITGAX promotes gastric cancer progression via epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathway. Front Pharmacol. 2025, 15:1536478.
  2.Sui Y, et al.; Prediction and analysis of novel key genes ITGAX, LAPTM5, SERPINE1 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma through bioinformatics analysis. PeerJ. 2021, 9:e11272.