title: Angiopoietin signaling in the vasculature.
abstract: The angiopoietin (Ang) growth factors and the endothelial Tie receptors regulate blood and lymphatic vessel development, and vascular permeability, inflammation, angiogenic remodeling and tumor vascularization in adult tissues. The angiopoietins activate the Tie receptors in unique in trans complexes at endothelial cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts. In addition, integrins have been implicated in the regulation of Ang-Tie signaling. Recent interest has focused on the function of angiopoietin-2 and its inhibition in the tumor vasculature and also in other pathological conditions associated with endothelial dysfunction. Here we review the current understanding of the signaling functions of the Ang-Tie pathway and its potential for future development of targeted vascular therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Oulu Center for Cell-Matrix Research, Biocenter Oulu, and Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Lauri
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eklund
authors.forename: Pipsa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saharinen
mesh_terms: D042682:Angiopoietins / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000254:growth & development; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010539:Permeability; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D042682:Angiopoietins