title: Angiopoietins in angiogenesis and beyond.
abstract: The angiopoietin (Ang) family of growth factors includes four members, all of which bind to the endothelial receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2. Two of the Angs, Ang-1 and Ang-4, activate the Tie2 receptor, whereas Ang-2 and Ang-3 inhibit Ang-1-induced Tie2 phosphorylation. While genetic models have underscored the importance of Angs in the developing cardiovascular system, other studies have demonstrated that Ang-1 promotes endothelial cell survival, sprouting and tube formation. More recently, a new aspect of the biology of this class of growth factors has emerged, namely the ability of Ang-1 to reduce inflammation. This review presents an outline of Angs and their receptors, examining their structure, expression, signalling, regulation and biological significance and comments on the role and potential usefulness of Angs in medicine.
authors.affiliation: George P. Livanos Laboratory, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Ploutarchou 3, 5th floor, Athens, Greece 10675, USA.
authors.forename: Stelios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsigkos
authors.forename: Micheal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koutsilieris
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papapetropoulos
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D000091304:Angiopoietin-Like Protein 1; D000075802:Angiopoietin-like Proteins; D042682:Angiopoietins; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2
chemical_list: C117578:ANGPTL1 protein, human; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D000091304:Angiopoietin-Like Protein 1; D000075802:Angiopoietin-like Proteins; D042682:Angiopoietins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C105373:MEN1 protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C118117:angiopoietin 4; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2