Akt1 in endothelial cell and angiogenesis
Payaningal R Somanath1, Olga V Razorenova, Juhua Chen
1Department of Molecular Cardiology, Joseph J. Jacobs Center for Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, Taussig Cancer Center, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|March 23, 2006
Summary
Protein kinase B (Akt) regulates key cellular processes and impacts blood vessel formation. Targeting Akt isoforms shows promise for treating angiogenesis-related diseases like cancer and ischemic injury.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cellular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Akt, also known as Protein kinase B (PKB), is a crucial regulator of fundamental cellular functions.
- These functions include cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and metabolism.
- Akt plays a significant role in modulating angiogenic factors, making it relevant to vascular anomalies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the regulatory roles of Akt in cellular functions.
- To emphasize Akt's influence on angiogenic factors.
- To discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting Akt isoforms in angiogenesis-related diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on Akt signaling pathways.
- Analysis of Akt's involvement in cellular processes and angiogenesis.
- Examination of therapeutic strategies targeting Akt isoforms.
Main Results:
- Akt (PKB) is a central regulator of cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and metabolism.
- Akt influences the expression and/or activity of both pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors.
- Specific Akt isoforms (Akt1, Akt2, Akt3) are implicated in angiogenesis-related disorders.
Conclusions:
- Akt is a critical mediator of cellular functions and angiogenesis.
- Targeting Akt isoforms presents a potential therapeutic avenue for conditions characterized by abnormal angiogenesis.
- Further research into Akt-targeted therapies could address unmet needs in cancer and ischemic injury treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Mechanism of Angiogenesis
6.9K
Blood vessel formation starts early during embryonic development, around day 7. In the extraembryonic yolk sac, mesodermal precursor cells called hemangioblast proliferate and differentiate into angioblast. Angioblasts express vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 or VEGFR2, which binds VEGF-A, a proangiogenic factor, guiding blood vessel formation. VEGF signaling promotes angioblasts to form a blood island in the developing embryo. Angioblasts further differentiate, giving rise to...
6.9K
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
3.5K
Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits. Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl...
3.5K
01:07What are Cells?
202.0K
Cells are the smallest and basic units of life, whether it is a single cell that forms the entire organism, e.g., in a bacterium or trillions of them, e.g., in humans. No matter what organism a cell is a part of, they share specific characteristics.
Basic Characteristics of Cells
A living cell has a plasma membrane, a bilayer of lipids that separates the aqueous solution inside the cell called the cytoplasm from the outside environment.
Furthermore, a living cell possesses genetic information...
Basic Characteristics of Cells
A living cell has a plasma membrane, a bilayer of lipids that separates the aqueous solution inside the cell called the cytoplasm from the outside environment.
Furthermore, a living cell possesses genetic information...
202.0K
02:03What is Cell Signaling?
131.0K
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate to respond to the environment.
131.0K
02:58Chemistry of the Cell
48.1K
The cell is chemically composed of water, organic molecules and inorganic ions.
Water
The polarity of the water molecule and its resulting hydrogen bonding makes water a unique substance with special properties that are intimately tied to the processes of life. Life originally evolved in an aqueous environment, and most of an organism’s cellular chemistry and metabolism occur inside the aqueous contents of the cell’s cytoplasm. Special properties of water are its high heat capacity...
Water
The polarity of the water molecule and its resulting hydrogen bonding makes water a unique substance with special properties that are intimately tied to the processes of life. Life originally evolved in an aqueous environment, and most of an organism’s cellular chemistry and metabolism occur inside the aqueous contents of the cell’s cytoplasm. Special properties of water are its high heat capacity...
48.1K
02:41Concentration Cells
25.9K
A concentration cell is a type of a voltaic cell constructed by connecting two almost identical half-cells, both based on the same half-reaction and using the same electrode, differing only in the concentration of one redox species. A concentration cell's potential, therefore, is determined only by the concentration difference of the particular redox species.
Consider the following voltaic cell:
Consider the following voltaic cell:
25.9K