title: Dynamics between actin and the VE-cadherin/catenin complex: novel aspects of the ARP2/3 complex in regulation of endothelial junctions.
abstract: Endothelial adherens junctions are critical for physiological and pathological processes such as differentiation, maintenance of entire monolayer integrity, and the remodeling. The endothelial-specific VE-cadherin/catenin complex provides the backbone of adherens junctions and acts in close interaction with actin filaments and actin/myosin-mediated contractility to fulfill the junction demands. The functional connection between the cadherin/catenin complex and actin filaments might be either directly through ?-catenins, or indirectly e.g., via linker proteins such as vinculin, p120ctn, ?-actinin, or EPLIN. However, both junction integrity and dynamic remodeling have to be contemporarily coordinated. The actin-related protein complex ARP2/3 and its activating molecules, such as N-WASP and WAVE, have been shown to regulate the lammellipodia-mediated formation of cell junctions in both epithelium and endothelium. Recent reports now demonstrate a novel aspect of the ARP2/3 complex and the nucleating-promoting factors in the maintenance of endothelial barrier function and junction remodeling of established endothelial cell junctions. Those mechanisms open novel possibilities; not only in fulfilling physiological demands but obtained information may be of critical importance in pathologies such as wound healing, angiogenesis, inflammation, and cell diapedesis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy & Vascular Biology; WWU-Münster, Vesaliusweg 2-4; Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Abdallah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abu Taha
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy & Vascular Biology; WWU-Münster, Vesaliusweg 2-4; Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schnittler
mesh_terms: D051376:Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000185:Actinin / Q000378:metabolism; D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051177:Catenins / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022502:Stress Fibers / Q000378:metabolism*; D057705:Transendothelial and Transepithelial Migration / Q000235:genetics; D016596:Vinculin / Q000378:metabolism; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000378:metabolism; D000095002:Delta Catenin; D000099152:Cadherin 5
chemical_list: D051376:Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex; D000185:Actinin; D000199:Actins; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D051177:Catenins; D016596:Vinculin; D051178:alpha Catenin; D000095002:Delta Catenin; D000099152:Cadherin 5; C000722347:CTNND1 protein, human
keywords: ARP2/3 complex; VE-cadherin; actin; cortical actin; endothelium; stress fibers