title: Functional properties of human vascular endothelial cadherin (7B4/cadherin-5), an endothelium-specific cadherin.
abstract: Human vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin, 7B4/cadherin-5) is an endothelial-specific cadherin localized at the intercellular junctions. To directly investigate the functional role of this molecule we cloned the full-length cDNA from human endothelial cells and transfected its coding region into Chinese hamster ovary cells. The product of the transfected cDNA had the same molecular weight as the natural VE-cadherin in human endothelial cells, and reacted with several VE-cadherin mouse monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, it selectively concentrated at intercellular junctions, where it codistributed with alpha-catenin. VE-cadherin conferred adhesive properties to transfected cells. It mediated homophilic, calcium-dependent aggregation and cell-to-cell adhesion. In addition, it decreased intercellular permeability to high-molecular weight molecules and reduced cell migration rate across a wounded area. Thus, VE-cadherin may exert a relevant role in endothelial cell biology through control of the cohesion and organization of the intercellular junctions.
authors.affiliation: Istituto de Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Breviario
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caveda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corada
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martin-Padura
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Golay
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Introna
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gulino
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lampugnani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dejana
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D001483:Base Sequence; D016466:CHO Cells; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006224:Cricetinae; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection; D000099152:Cadherin 5
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000099152:Cadherin 5