title: [Antiadhesive molecule T-cadherin is an atypical low-density lipoprotein receptor in vascular cells].
abstract: Elevated serum LDL level, which results in cholesterol accumulation in vascular wall, is widely accepted as a risk factor in atherosclerosis development. Additionally to metabolic effects, LDL can produce hormone-like effects in a number of cells: activate second messenger systems, regulate gene expression and activate platelets and stimulate cell proliferation. The responses elicited by LDL are rapid, dose-dependent and capable of being saturated, indicating the involvement of specific receptor/binding sites in LDI-stimulated signal transduction. This LDL-binding protein was isolated from human aorta media and identified as T-cadherin. Cadherins are a superfamily of adhesion molecules that mediate Ca2+ -dependent cell-cell adhesion in embryogenesis and in adult organism's solid tissues. Intercellular junctions are formed as a result of interactions between extracellular domains of the neighboring cells' cadherins. Binding of the intercellular domain to the acting cytoskeleton ensures stability of cadherin-mediated adhesive junctions. T-cadherin is a unique member of calcium-dependent adherent proteins; in contrast to classical cadherins T-cadherin is anchored to the cell surface membranes via a glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol (GPI) moiety. Subcellular distribution of T-cadherin is restricted to lipid rafts on the cell membranes where it co-localizes with signal-transducing molecules. The function of T-cadherin has not yet been revealed. It was originally cloned from chicken embryo brain where the spatial-temporally restricted pattern of T-cadherin suggests its role as a negative guidance cue in tegulating the segmental organization of trunk neural crest migration and motor axon projections. Comparative study of the T-cadherin expression in human organs and tissues revealed that T-cadherin content was maximal in cardiovascular system. Its expression in VSMC depends on the cell phenotype and proliferate activity and increases in atherosclerotic lesion and restenosis. T-cadherin seems to play a key role in the regulation of the vascular cell phenotype, migration and growth. We hypothesize that T-cadherin is an anti-adhesive molecule which participates in intercellular interactions informing cells about their environment and regulating migration and proliferation of cells in vascular wall, while LDL interfere with the normal function of T-cadherin.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Rubina
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Tkachuk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; C099972:H-cadherin; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D011973:Receptors, LDL