Endoglin: a critical mediator of cardiovascular health

Navin K Kapur1, Kevin J Morine, Michelle Letarte

  • 1Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA. nkapur@tuftsmedicalcenter.org

Endoglin (CD105) is a type III auxiliary receptor for the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) superfamily. Several lines of evidence suggest that endoglin plays a critical role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. Seemingly disparate disease conditions, including hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, pre-eclampsia, and cardiac fibrosis, have now been associated with endoglin. Given the central role of the TGFβ superfamily in multiple disease conditions, this review provides a detailed update on endoglin as an evolving therapeutic target in the management of cardiovascular disease.

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