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Updated: May 24, 2026

Measuring Changes in Brain Endothelial Barrier Integrity with Two Impedance-based Biosensors in Response to Cancer Cells and Cytokines
Published on: September 22, 2023
Vascular endothelial-cadherin and vascular stability
Elisabetta Dejana1, Costanza Giampietro
1IFOM, FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy. elisabetta.dejana@ifomieo-campus.it
Endothelial adherens junctions, particularly VE-cadherin, are crucial for vascular integrity. Stabilizing these junctions can prevent bleeding and edema in various diseases.
Area of Science:
- Vascular biology
- Cell adhesion
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Vascular integrity relies on controlled permeability and blood flow resistance.
- Pathologies like tumor angiogenesis and stroke require vessel stabilization to prevent bleeding and edema.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of endothelial cell-to-cell adherens junctions in maintaining vascular integrity.
- To highlight the significance of VE-cadherin in regulating vascular function.
Main Methods:
- Review of current knowledge on endothelial adherens junctions.
- Analysis of VE-cadherin interactions and signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- Adherens junctions, including VE-cadherin, mediate cell adhesion and intracellular signaling.
- VE-cadherin interactions regulate contact inhibition, permeability, and tight junction organization.
- Altered VE-cadherin levels impact vascular permeability, growth, and fragility.
Conclusions:
- Beyond modulating vascular growth, stabilizing vessels is critical in disease.
- Developing tools to stabilize organ perfusion and prevent hemorrhage/edema is essential.
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