Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
08:15
Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
Published on: October 17, 2014
Cell adhesion dynamics at endothelial junctions: VE-cadherin as a major player
Dietmar Vestweber1, Mark Winderlich, Giuseppe Cagna
1Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, Münster, Germany. vestweb@mpi-muenster.mpg.de
Trends in Cell Biology
|November 18, 2008
Summary
Leukocytes and angiogenic factors dynamically regulate endothelial cell junctions, impacting blood vessel barrier function and leukocyte movement. Vascular endothelial cadherin plays a key role in maintaining endothelial junction stability.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Endothelial cell contacts are crucial for blood vessel barrier integrity and leukocyte extravasation.
- Endothelial junction plasticity is modulated by angiogenic factors like vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-1.
- Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) is a primary mediator of endothelial junction stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on how leukocytes and angiogenic factors influence endothelial cell junctions.
- To highlight the regulatory mechanisms controlling endothelial barrier function and cell-cell adhesion.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on endothelial cell junction regulation.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms involving adhesion molecules and growth factors.
Main Results:
- Leukocytes and angiogenic factors actively modulate endothelial cell contacts.
- VE-cadherin is central to maintaining the stability of endothelial junctions.
- Understanding these regulations is key to controlling vascular permeability and immune cell trafficking.
Conclusions:
- Endothelial cell junctions are highly dynamic structures regulated by both cellular and molecular cues.
- Leukocyte interactions and angiogenic signaling pathways significantly impact endothelial barrier function.
- Further research into these mechanisms can inform therapeutic strategies for vascular diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Structure of Cadherins
The cadherins were one of the first cell adhesion molecules discovered; the term “cadherins” is based on their calcium-dependent adhering properties. The first cadherins discovered on the epithelial, neuronal, and placental cells were named E-cadherin, P-cadherin, and N-cadherin, respectively. These classical cadherins share sequence and structural similarities. Other cadherins, including those involved in cell signaling, are grouped into non-classical cadherins. This diversity of cadherins...
01:19Cadherins in Tissue Organization
The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
01:24Adherens Junctions
Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types – adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
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 hydroxylase and factor...
01:26Tension Response at Adherens Junctions
The adherens junctions that anchor cells together are multi-protein complexes that dynamically adapt to mechanical stimuli such as tensile forces and shear stress. Mechanosensory proteins in these junctions can sense such mechanical stimuli and undergo a shift in their conformation, resulting in an altered function — a process called mechanotransduction.
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...
01:17Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Some...