VCAM-1 (CD106), a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is a cell surface protein expressed by activated endothelial cells and certain leukocytes (such as macrophages). VCAM-1 expression is induced by IL-1 beta, IL-4, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. VCAM-1 binds to leukocyte integrins VLA-4 and alpha 4 beta 7. The human and mouse VCAM-1 proteins share approximately 76% amino acid similarity.
This gene encodes a voltage-dependent anion channel protein that is a major component of the outer mitochondrial membrane. The encoded protein facilitates the exchange of metabolites and ions across the outer mitochondrial membrane and may regulate mitochondrial functions. This protein also forms channels in the plasma membrane and may be involved in transmembrane electron transport. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants. Multiple pseudogenes of this gene are found on chromosomes 1, 2 3, 6, 9, 12, X and Y.
The cadherin (Ca++-dependent adherence) superfamily is a large group of membrane-associated glycoproteins that engage in homotypic, calcium-dependent, cell-cell adhesion events. The superfamily can be divided into at least five major subfamilies based on molecule gene structure, and/or extracellular (EC) and intracellular domains . Subfamilies include classical/type I, atypical/type II, and desmosomal-related cadherins
Cadherins (Calcium dependent adhesion molecules) are a class of transmembrane proteins. Cadherin-5, also known as VE-cadherin, CDH5 and CD144, an endothelial specific cell-cell adhesion molecule, plays a pivotal role in the formation, maturation and remodeling of the vascular wall. VE-Cadherin is widely considered to be specific for vascular endothelia in which it is either the sole or the predominant cadherin, often co-existing with N-cadherin. This specificity of VE-cadherin for vascular endothelial cells is important not only in blood and lymph vessel biology and medicine, but also for cell-type-based diagnoses, notably those of metastatic tumors. As a classical cadherin, VE-Cadherin links endothelial cells together by homophilic interactions mediated by its extracellular part and associates intracellularly with the actin cytoskeleton via catenins. Mechanisms that regulate VE-cadherin-mediated adhesion are important for the control of vascular permeability and leukocyte extravasation. In addition to its adhesive functions, VE-Cadherin regulates various cellular processes such as cell proliferation and apoptosis and modulates vascular endothelial growth factor receptor functions. Consequently, VE-cadherin is essential during embryonic angiogenesis.
This gene encodes a classical cadherin of the cadherin superfamily. The encoded preproprotein is proteolytically processed to generate the mature glycoprotein. This calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule is comprised of five extracellular cadherin repeats, a transmembrane region and a highly conserved cytoplasmic tail. Functioning as a classical cadherin by imparting to cells the ability to adhere in a homophilic manner, this protein plays a role in endothelial adherens junction assembly and maintenance. This gene is located in a gene cluster in a region on the long arm of chromosome 16 that is involved in loss of heterozygosity events in breast and prostate cancer.
This gene is a member of the PDGF/VEGF growth factor family. It encodes a heparin-binding protein, which exists as a disulfide-linked homodimer. This growth factor induces proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells, and is essential for both physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Disruption of this gene in mice resulted in abnormal embryonic blood vessel formation. This gene is upregulated in many known tumors and its expression is correlated with tumor stage and progression. Elevated levels of this protein are found in patients with POEMS syndrome, also known as Crow-Fukase syndrome. Allelic variants of this gene have been associated with microvascular complications of diabetes 1 (MVCD1) and atherosclerosis. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described.
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