Patent ID: 8741579

Claim:
An assay for identifying compounds modulating beta 1 integrin into an intermediate affinity state conformation, said assay comprising the steps of: providing a candidate compound that has binding specificity for beta 1 integrin, bringing the candidate compound into contact with beta 1 integrin, and determining the presence of modulation of beta 1 integrin into an intermediate affinity state conformation by the candidate compound by monitoring for: (i) suppression of F-actin aggregate formation and a decrease in cytoskeletal tension; (ii) improved cellular energy homeostasis; and (iii) maintenance of beta 1 integrin expression levels, wherein the presence of modulation of the beta 1 integrin into the intermediate affinity state conformation is characterized by: (1) suppression of F-actin aggregate formation and a decrease in cytoskeletal tension; (2) improved cellular energy homeostasis resulting from a reversion to sinusoidal oscillation of ATP levels and associated improved levels of ATP recycling within a cell; and (3) maintenance of beta 1 integrin expression levels, and further wherein the presence of said candidate compound characteristic is indicative of modulation of beta 1 integrin into the intermediate affinity state.