When collagen binds to integrin α1β1, it starts a chain reaction inside the cell that makes cells grow and move, which is important for healing and tissue repair.

“The molecular interaction of α1β1 integrin with collagen triggers several biological signals such as adapter protein activation, Grb2 recruitment, MAPK activation for cellular proliferation and phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) at Tyr-397 for fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation in order to activate the Shc-mediated pathway in skin regeneration. Activation of integrin by collagen phosphorylates FAK/Src pathways, which leads to upregulated cell proliferation and survival via downstream signaling pathways contributing to JNK/MAPK, ERK1/2, PI3K, Akt molecules and transcriptional gene regulation.”