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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
PubMed

Insights

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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