Plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein: A crucial component of vascular homeostasis.
Endothelial subcellular structures, including caveolae, fenestrae and transendothelial channels, are crucial for regulating microvascular function. Plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein (PLVAP) is an endothelial cell-specific protein that forms the stomatal and fenestral diaphragms of blood vessels and regulates basal permeability, leukocyte migration and angiogenesis. Loss of PLVAP in mice leads to premature mortality due to disrupted homeostasis. Evidence from previous studies suggested that PLVAP is involved in cancer, traumatic spinal cord injury, acute ischemic brain disease, transplant glomerulopathy, Norrie disease and diabetic retinopathy. Specifically, PLVAP expression has been demonstrated to be upregulated in these diseases, accompanied by pro-angiogenic or pro-inflammatory responses. Therefore, PLVAP is considered a novel therapeutic target, in addition to an endothelial cell marker. The present review summarizes the structure and functions of PLVAP, and its roles in pathophysiological processes.
Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China.
Ling
L
Guo
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xintai City People's Hospital Affiliated to Taishan Medical University, Xintai, Shandong 271200, P.R. China.
Hongyan
H
Zhang
Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China.
Yinglong
Y
Hou
Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Tianshu
T
Wei
Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China.
Ju
J
Liu
diaphragms; endothelial cell; homeostasis; permeability; plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein-1