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Isolation of Endocardial and Coronary Endothelial Cells from the Ventricular Free Wall of the Rat Heart
Published on: April 15, 2020
Cadherins and cardiovascular disease
Therese J Resink1, Maria Philippova, Manjunath B Joshi
1Laboratory for Signal Transduction, Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital, Switzerland. therese-j.resink@unibas.ch
Swiss Medical Weekly
|March 11, 2009
Summary
Cadherins, cell adhesion molecules, play roles in tissue remodeling. This review explores their specific involvement in cardiovascular diseases like cardiomyopathies and atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Cell Adhesion
Background:
- Cadherins are cell surface adhesion molecules vital for tissue development and maintenance.
- Their roles in morphogenesis and tissue turnover suggest involvement in cardiovascular diseases characterized by remodeling.
- Diverse cadherin expression and functions in cardiac and vascular tissues complicate specific role definition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the cadherin superfamily.
- To review cadherin involvement in cardiac diseases (cardiomyopathies) and vascular diseases (atherosclerosis, restenosis).
- To discuss putative functions of cadherins in cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on cadherins in cardiovascular disease.
- Analysis of cadherin superfamily roles in tissue architecture alterations.
- Discussion of cadherin functions in relevant cell types.
Main Results:
- Investigations into cadherins in cardiovascular disease are limited compared to embryogenesis and oncology.
- Prominent tissue architecture alterations in cardiomyopathies, atherosclerosis, and restenosis are linked to cadherin involvement.
- Specific cadherin functions in cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells are discussed in relation to disease.
Conclusions:
- Cadherins are implicated in cardiovascular diseases involving significant tissue remodeling.
- Further research is needed to fully delineate specific cadherin roles in cardiovascular pathology.
- Understanding cadherin functions is crucial for addressing cardiovascular disease mechanisms.
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