Breaking the VE-cadherin bonds

Abstract 

Exchanges between the blood compartment and the surrounding tissues require a tight regulation by the endothelial barrier. Recent reports inferred that VE-cadherin, an endothelial specific cell–cell adhesion molecule, plays a pivotal role in the formation, maturation and remodeling of the vascular wall. Indeed, a growing number of permeability inducing factors (PIFs) was shown to elicit signaling mechanisms culminating in VE-cadherin destabilization and global alteration of the junctional architecture. Conversely, anti-PIFs protect from VE-cadherin disruption and enhance cell cohesion. These findings provide evidence on how endothelial cell–cell junctions impact the vascular network, and change our perception about normal and aberrant angiogenesis.

Keywords: Vascular permeability, Angiogenesis, VEGF, Adhesion, Cytoskeleton, Tight junctions