Important in cell-cell recognition. Appears to function in leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion. Interacts with integrin alpha-4/beta-1 (ITGA4/ITGB1) on leukocytes, and mediates both adhesion and signal transduction. The VCAM1/ITGA4/ITGB1 interaction may play a pathophysiologic role both in immune responses and in leukocyte emigration to sites of inflammation. Binds to ECMV-D capsid proteins and acts as a receptor for this virus. Expressed in aortic endothelial cells, with low expression in the descending thoracic aorta and the outer curvature of the aortic arch, where pulsatory shear stress exists, and high in the inner curvature of the aortic arch, where oscillatory shear stress prevails (at protein level) (PubMed:28167758). Expressed on inflamed vascular endothelium, as well as on macrophage-like and dendritic cell types in both normal and inflamed tissue (PubMed:1371918).