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Molecular mechanisms that control endothelial cell contacts
Author(s) -
Vestweber Dietmar
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9896(200002)190:3<281::aid-path527>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - endothelial stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , endothelium , angiogenesis , basal lamina , cell , biology , extracellular matrix , sprouting angiogenesis , intracellular , vascular permeability , inflammation , extracellular , chemistry , immunology , anatomy , in vitro , biochemistry , ultrastructure , cancer research , endocrinology
Endothelial cell contacts control the permeability of the blood vessel wall. This allows the endothelium to form a barrier for solutes, macromolecules, and leukocytes between the vessel lumen and the interstitial space. Loss of this barrier function in pathophysiological situations can lead to extracellular oedema. The ability of leukocytes to enter tissue at sites of inflammation is dependent on molecular mechanisms that allow leukocytes to adhere to the endothelium and to migrate through the endothelial cell layer and the underlying basal lamina. It is a commonly accepted working hypothesis that inter‐endothelial cell contacts are actively opened and closed during this process. Angiogenesis is another important process that requires well‐controlled regulation of inter‐endothelial cell contacts. The formation of new blood vessels by sprouting from pre‐existing vessels depends on the loosening of established endothelial cell contacts and the migration of endothelial cells that form the outgrowing sprouts. This review focuses on the molecular composition of endothelial cell surface proteins and proteins of the cytoskeletal undercoat of the plasma membrane at sites of inter‐endothelial cell contacts and discusses the current knowledge about the potential role of such molecules in the regulation of endothelial cell contacts. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.