Slit-Robo signaling in ocular angiogenesis.
Slit-Robo signaling was firstly discovered as a major repellent pathway at the midline of the central nervous system. Intense investigation found that this pathway also plays an important role in other biological process including angiogenesis. Robo4 is the vascular endothelial cell specific member of Robo family. It was found that Slit-Robo signaling can inhibit endothelial cell migration, tube formation and vascular permeability. Slit-Robo signaling also plays an important role in embryonic and tumor angiogenesis. In animal model of ocular angiogenesis, addition of Slit inhibited laser induced choroidal neovascularization, oxygen induced retinopathy and VEGF induced retinal permeability in a Robo4 dependent manner. Recent data demonstrates that Robo1 and Robo4 form a heterodimer in endothelial cells, The role of this heterodimer in counteracting VEGF signaling is unknown. Further investigation is required to better understand Slit-Robo signaling and develop novel therapy for angiogenesis.
Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China. drchenhaoyu@gmail.com
Haoyu
H
Chen
Mingzhi
M
Zhang
Shibo
S
Tang
Nyall R
NR
London
Dean Y
DY
Li
Kang
K
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins
D006023:Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins; C120566:slit protein, vertebrate