The integrin family includes cell surface receptors for extracellular matrix components as well as receptors involved in various aspects of leukocyte adhesion. The integrins generally consist of alpha-beta heterodimeric transmembrane glycoproteins in which the alpha subunit is noncovalently associated with the beta subunit.

Integrin, alpha 4 belongs to the integrin alpha chain family of proteins. Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane proteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain. This gene encodes an alpha 4 chain. Unlike other integrin alpha chains, alpha 4 neither contains an I-domain, nor undergoes disulfide-linked cleavage. Alpha 4 chain associates with either beta 1 chain or beta 7 chain.