This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 28/2/223    most recent ATVBAHA.107.158014v1 Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vestweber, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vestweber, D. Related Collections Vascular Adhesion Molecules

(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2008;28:223.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.

Brief Review

VE-Cadherin

The Major Endothelial Adhesion Molecule Controlling Cellular Junctions and Blood Vessel Formation

Dietmar Vestweber

From the Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany.

Correspondence to Dr Dietmar Vestweber, Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstr. 20, D-48149 Münster, Germany. E-mail vestweb{at}mpi-muenster.mpg.de

Series Editor: Dietmar Vestweber
Vascular Adhesion Molecules
ATVB In Focus

Previous Brief Reviews in this Series:

•van Buul JD, Kanters E, Hordijk PL. Endothelial signaling by Ig-like cell adhesion molecules. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2007;27:1870–1876.
•Bradfield PF, Nourshargh S, Aurrand-Lions M, Imhof BA. JAM family and related proteins in leukocyte migration. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2007;27:2104–2112.
•Galkina E and Ley K. Vascular adhesion molecules in atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2007;27: 2292–2301.
•Jalkanen S, Salmi M. VAP-1 and CD73, endothelial cell surface enzymes in leukocyte extravasation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2008;28:18–26.

Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin is a strictly endothelial specific adhesion molecule located at junctions between endothelial cells. In analogy of the role of E-cadherin as major determinant for epithelial cell contact integrity, VE-cadherin is of vital importance for the maintenance and control of endothelial cell contacts. Mechanisms that regulate VE-cadherin–mediated adhesion are important for the control of vascular permeability and leukocyte extravasation. In addition to its adhesive functions, VE-cadherin regulates various cellular processes such as cell proliferation and apoptosis and modulates vascular endothelial growth factor receptor functions. Consequently, VE-cadherin is essential during embryonic angiogenesis. This review will focus on recent new developments in understanding the role of VE-cadherin in controlling endothelial cell contacts and influencing endothelial cell behavior by various outside-in signaling processes.

Key Words: vascular permeability • VE-cadherin • leukocyte extravasation • cell adhesion

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Monaghan-Benson and K. Burridge The Regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-induced Microvascular Permeability Requires Rac and Reactive Oxygen Species J. Biol. Chem., September 18, 2009; 284(38): 25602 - 25611. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. L. Schwartz Antivascular Actions of Microtubule-Binding Drugs Clin. Cancer Res., April 15, 2009; 15(8): 2594 - 2601. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Johnson TNF-induced activation of pulmonary microvessel endothelial cells: a role for GSK3{beta} Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, April 1, 2009; 296(4): L700 - L709. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Chiasson, K. B. Wittich, P. A. Vincent, V. Faundez, and A. P. Kowalczyk p120-Catenin Inhibits VE-Cadherin Internalization through a Rho-independent Mechanism Mol. Biol. Cell, April 1, 2009; 20(7): 1970 - 1980. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. S. Funa, V. Kriz, G. Zang, G. Calounova, B. Akerblom, J. Mares, E. Larsson, Y. Sun, C. Betsholtz, and M. Welsh Dysfunctional Microvasculature as a Consequence of Shb Gene Inactivation Causes Impaired Tumor Growth Cancer Res., March 1, 2009; 69(5): 2141 - 2148. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Atar, P. Petzelbauer, J. Schwitter, K. Huber, B. Rensing, J. D. Kasprzak, C. Butter, L. Grip, P. R. Hansen, T. Suselbeck, et al. Effect of Intravenous FX06 as an Adjunct to Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Results of the F.I.R.E. (Efficacy of FX06 in the Prevention of Myocardial Reperfusion Injury) Trial J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., February 24, 2009; 53(8): 720 - 729. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L.-W. Qian, W. Greene, F. Ye, and S.-J. Gao Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Disrupts Adherens Junctions and Increases Endothelial Permeability by Inducing Degradation of VE-Cadherin J. Virol., December 1, 2008; 82(23): 11902 - 11912. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Fainaru, I. Adini, O. Benny, L. Bazinet, E. Pravda, R. D'Amato, and J. Folkman Doxycycline induces membrane expression of VE-cadherin on endothelial cells and prevents vascular hyperpermeability FASEB J, October 1, 2008; 22(10): 3728 - 3735. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Alcaide, G. Newton, S. Auerbach, S. Sehrawat, T. N. Mayadas, D. E. Golan, P. Yacono, P. Vincent, A. Kowalczyk, and F. W. Luscinskas p120-Catenin regulates leukocyte transmigration through an effect on VE-cadherin phosphorylation Blood, October 1, 2008; 112(7): 2770 - 2779. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]