N-cadherin levels in endothelial cells are regulated by monolayer maturity and p120 availability.
Endothelial cells (ECs) express VE-cadherin and N-cadherin, and recent data suggest that VE-cadherin levels are dependent on N-cadherin expression. While investigating changes in N-cadherin levels during endothelial monolayer maturation, the authors found that VE-cadherin levels are maintained in ECs despite a decrease in N-cadherin, suggesting that VE-cadherin levels may not depend on N-cadherin. Knockdown of N-cadherin did not affect VE-cadherin levels in ECs with low endogenous N-cadherin expression. Surprisingly, however, knockdown of N-cadherin in ECs with high endogenous N-cadherin expression increased VE-cadherin levels, suggesting an inverse relationship between the two. This was further supported by a decrease in VE-cadherin following overexpression of N-cadherin. Experiments in which p120, a catenin that binds N- and VE-cadherin, was knocked down or overexpressed indicate that these two cadherins compete for p120. These data demonstrate that VE-cadherin levels are not directly related to N-cadherin levels but may be inversely related due to competition for p120.
Ferreri
Deana M
DM
Center for Cardiovascular Sciences, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York 12208, USA.
Minnear
Fred L
FL
Yin
Taofei
T
Kowalczyk
Andrew P
AP
Vincent
Peter A
PA
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051177:Catenins; D002417:Cattle; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006801:Humans; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D000095002:Delta Catenin; D000099152:Cadherin 5
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D051177:Catenins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D000095002:Delta Catenin; D000099152:Cadherin 5