A recombinant or isolated integrin heterodimer comprising a novel subunit.alpha.10 in association with a subunit .beta. is described. The .alpha.10integrin may be purified from bovine chondrocytes on a collagen-type-IIaffinity column. The integrin or the subunit .alpha.10 can be used as markeror target of all types of cells, e.g. of chondrocytes, osteoblasts andfibroblasts. The integrin or subunit .alpha.10 thereof can be used as markeror target in different physiological or therapeutic methods. They can also beused as active ingredients in pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines.
