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Updated: May 26, 2026
07:49
Molecular Analysis of Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling
Published on: August 3, 2018
Immunolocalization of endocan during the endothelial-mesenchymal transition process
L M Carrillo1, E Arciniegas, H Rojas
1Servicio Autónomo Instituto de Biomedicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
European Journal of Histochemistry : EJH
|December 29, 2011
Summary
Endocan, a dermatan sulfate proteoglycan (DSPG), is present in chicken embryo aortic walls during remodeling. Its localization suggests a role in endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT).
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Proteoglycan Research
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Endocan (DSPG) regulates endothelial cell functions like migration and proliferation.
- Endocan is found in various tumors and vessels, but its role in embryonic aortic development is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and localization of endocan in the chicken embryo aortic wall during development.
- To explore endocan's potential involvement in endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT).
Main Methods:
- Immunolabeling of embryonic chicken aortic cross-sections.
- Immunofluorescence on primary embryonic aortic endothelial cells cultured under different conditions (serum-deprived, EGF-stimulated).
Main Results:
- Endocan immunoreactivity was detected in the endothelium and mesenchymal cells of the developing aortic wall.
- In stimulated endothelial cells, endocan localized to the leading edge, associated with cell migration.
- Endocan delineated cell margins in non-migrating endothelial cells.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first to demonstrate endocan presence during embryonic aortic wall remodeling.
- Findings suggest endocan may contribute to the endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) process.
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