Erschienen in:
01.06.2009 | Review Paper
Fibronectins in vascular morphogenesis
verfasst von:
Sophie Astrof, Richard O. Hynes
Erschienen in:
Angiogenesis
|
Ausgabe 2/2009
Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten
Abstract
Fibronectin is an extracellular matrix protein found only in vertebrate organisms containing endothelium-lined vasculature and is required for cardiovascular development in fish and mice. Fibronectin and its splice variants containing EIIIA and EIIIB domains are highly upregulated around newly developing vasculature during embryogenesis and in pathological conditions including atherosclerosis, cardiac hypertrophy, and tumorigenesis. However, their molecular roles in these processes are not entirely understood. We review genetic studies examining functions of fibronectin and its splice variants during embryonic cardiovascular development, and discuss potential roles of fibronectin in vascular disease and tumor angiogenesis.