title: Endothelial cell markers from clinician's perspective.
abstract: Endothelial cell markers are membrane-bound or cytoplasmic molecules expressed by endothelial cells, which help their easier identification and discrimination from other cell types. During vasculogenesis, endothelial cells differentiate from hemangioblasts to form new blood vessels. With the discovery of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and their ability to form new blood vessels, the term vasculogenesis is not only reserved for the embryonic development. Possibility of de novo blood vessel formation from EPC is now widely explored in different ischemic conditions, especially in cardiovascular medicine. Numerous clinical trials have tested enhancing tissue vascularization by delivering hematopoietic cells that expressed endothelial markers. This therapeutic approach proved to be challenging and promising, particularly for patients who have exhausted all conventional therapeutic modalities. Angiogenesis, which refers to the formation of new blood vessels from existing vasculature, is indispensable process during tumor progression and metastasis. Blockage of tumor angiogenesis by targeting and inhibiting endothelial cell has emerged as novel safe and efficacious method to control many advanced malignant diseases. Numerous clinical studies are currently testing new antiangiogenic drugs which target and inhibit endothelial cell markers, receptors or molecules which transmit receptor-mediated signals, therefore inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation, migration and vascular tube formation. Many of these drugs are now widely used in clinical settings as first- or second-line chemotherapy in advanced malignant conditions. So far, these therapeutic approaches gave modest, yet encouraging clinical improvements, prolonging survival and improving functional capacity and quality of life for many terminally ill patients. Here we present the most commonly used endothelial cell markers along with their applicability in contemporary clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 26 Visegradska Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rakocevic
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, 8 Dr Koste Todorovica Street, Belgrade, Serbia; School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 8 Dr Subotica Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dejan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orlic
authors.affiliation: Department for Neuroendocrinology, Institute for Medical Research, 4 Dr Subotica Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Olivera
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mitrovic-Ajtic
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, 8 Dr Koste Todorovica Street, Belgrade, Serbia; Department of Internal medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 69 Svetozara Markovica Street, Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors.forename: Miloje
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomasevic
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, 8 Dr Koste Todorovica Street, Belgrade, Serbia; School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 8 Dr Subotica Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobric
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 8 Dr Subotica Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zlatic
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, 8 Dr Koste Todorovica Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dejan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Milasinovic
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, 8 Dr Koste Todorovica Street, Belgrade, Serbia; School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 8 Dr Subotica Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stankovic
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 8 Dr Subotica Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Miodrag
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ostojić
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 26 Visegradska Street, Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: sborovic2001@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Labudovic-Borovic
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D000071063:Endoglin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers; D000071063:Endoglin; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; C581309:FLT4 protein, human; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3
keywords: CD31; CD34; Endothelial cell; Surface marker; VEGF; VEGFR2