Chondromodulin-I and tenomodulin: a new class of tissue-specific angiogenesis inhibitors found in hypovascular connective tissues.
In tissues and/or organs of mesenchymal origin, the vasculature is usually well developed. However, there are certain hypovascular tissues that exhibit powerful anti-angiogenic resistance, implying the presence of tissue-type specific inhibitors of angiogenesis. Hyaline cartilage is one example, and several anti-angiogenic factors have been purified from cartilage. We previously identified chondromodulin-I (ChM-I) as a tissue-specific inhibitor of angiogenesis in fetal bovine cartilage. ChM-I is specifically expressed in the avascular regions of the growth-plate and cartilaginous bone rudiments in embryos. Recently, we cloned a novel type II transmembrane protein, tenomodulin (TeM), having a domain homologous to ChM-I at its C-terminus. TeM turned out to be expressed specifically in other hypovascular structures in the mesenchyme, such as the epimysium, tendon, and ligaments. In this overview, we discuss the structural characteristics of this class of anti-angiogenic molecules and their pathophysiological role in the control of vascularity.
Shukunami
Chisa
C
Department of Cellular Differentiation, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Oshima
Yusuke
Y
Hiraki
Yuji
Y
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C422444:TNMD protein, human; C068675:CNMD protein, human