title: Role of aminopeptidase in angiogenesis.
abstract: Microvessels are composed of endothelial cells and surrounding pericytes. Angiogenesis, a neo-vessel formation from pre-existing microvessels, is a complex phenomenon, which requires following sequential steps: detachment of pre-existing pericytes for vascular destabilization, extracellular matrix turnover, migration, proliferation, tube formation by endothelial cells (ECs), and reattachment of pericytes for vascular stabilization. Aminopeptidases regulate the N-terminal modification of proteins and peptides for maturation, activation or degradation, and thereby relate to a variety of biological processes. Recently, three aminopeptidases have been reported to be involved in angiogenesis. They include type 2 methionine aminopeptidase, aminopeptidase N, and adipocyte-derived leucine aminopeptidase/puromycin insensitive leucyl-specific aminopeptidase. This review will focus on the possible role of these aminopeptidases in angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Biology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan. y-sato@idac.tohoku.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasufumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000626:Aminopeptidases