Breaking the VE-cadherin bonds.
Exchanges between the blood compartment and the surrounding tissues require a tight regulation by the endothelial barrier. Recent reports inferred that VE-cadherin, an endothelial specific cell-cell adhesion molecule, plays a pivotal role in the formation, maturation and remodeling of the vascular wall. Indeed, a growing number of permeability inducing factors (PIFs) was shown to elicit signaling mechanisms culminating in VE-cadherin destabilization and global alteration of the junctional architecture. Conversely, anti-PIFs protect from VE-cadherin disruption and enhance cell cohesion. These findings provide evidence on how endothelial cell-cell junctions impact the vascular network, and change our perception about normal and aberrant angiogenesis.
Gavard
Julie
J
Institut Cochin, Universite Paris Descartes, CNRS (UMR 8104), Paris, France. julie.gavard@inserm.fr
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000099152:Cadherin 5
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D000099152:Cadherin 5