title: Transforming growth factor β family members in regulation of vascular function: in the light of vascular conditional knockouts.
abstract: Blood vessels are composed of endothelial cells, mural cells (smooth muscle cells and pericytes) and their shared basement membrane. During embryonic development a multitude of signaling components orchestrate the formation of new vessels. The process is highly dependent on correct dosage, spacing and timing of these signaling molecules. As vessels mature some cascades remain active, albeit at very low levels, and may be reactivated upon demand. Members of the Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) protein family are strongly engaged in developmental angiogenesis but are also regulators of vascular integrity in the adult. In humans various genetic alterations within this protein family cause vascular disorders, involving disintegration of vascular integrity. Here we summarize and discuss recent data gathered from conditional and endothelial cell specific genetic loss-of-function of members of the TGF-β family in the mouse.
authors: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Vascular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. Lars.Jakobsson@ki.se
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Jakobsson
authors: Laurens A
authors: LA
authors: van Meeteren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055411:TGF-beta Superfamily Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D055411:TGF-beta Superfamily Proteins