title: Neuropilins: structure, function and role in disease.
abstract: NRPs (neuropilins) are co-receptors for class 3 semaphorins, polypeptides with key roles in axonal guidance, and for members of the VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) family of angiogenic cytokines. They lack a defined signalling role, but are thought to mediate functional responses as a result of complex formation with other receptors, such as plexins in the case of semaphorins and VEGF receptors (e.g. VEGFR2). Mutant mouse studies show that NRP1 is essential for neuronal and cardiovascular development, whereas NRP2 has a more restricted role in neuronal patterning and lymphangiogenesis, but recent findings indicate that NRPs may have additional biological roles in other physiological and disease-related settings. In particular, NRPs are highly expressed in diverse tumour cell lines and human neoplasms and have been implicated in tumour growth and vascularization in vivo. However, despite the wealth of information regarding the probable biological roles of these molecules, many aspects of the regulation of cellular function via NRPs remain uncertain, and little is known concerning the molecular mechanisms through which NRPs mediate the functions of their various ligands in different cell types.
authors: Centre for Cardiovascular Science and Medicine, Department of Medicine, University College London, 5 University Street, London WC1E 6JJ, UK.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Pellet-Many
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Frankel
authors: Haiyan
authors: H
authors: Jia
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Zachary
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004194:Disease; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D039921:Neuropilins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D039921:Neuropilins