Open AccessVascular cell-matrix adhesion in development and cancer
Author(s) -
Christina Arapatzi,
Georgia Rouni,
Vassiliki Kostourou
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
the international journal of developmental biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.837
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1696-3547
pISSN - 0214-6282
DOI - 10.1387/ijdb.210204vk
Subject(s) - biology , morphogenesis , angiogenesis , microbiology and biotechnology , extracellular matrix , basement membrane , cell adhesion , endothelial stem cell , cell , genetics , gene , in vitro
The development and homeostasis of vertebrate organisms depend on the “tree of life”, that is the intricate network of vascular tubes composed by endothelial cells attached to the basement membrane and surrounded by perivascular cells. Although many studies have revealed the fundamental role of cytokines, growth factors and Notch signalling in vascular morphogenesis, we still lack sufficient understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling the various steps of the angiogenic processes. Emerging data highlight that cell adhesions are key players in vascular morphogenesis. In this review, we focus on endothelial cells and we present the current state of knowledge regarding the role of cell-matrix adhesions in developmental and tumour angiogenesis, attained mainly from genetic studies and animal models.