The physiological role of endoglin in the cardiovascular system

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2010 Oct;299(4):H959-74. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.01251.2009. Epub 2010 Jul 23.

Abstract

Endoglin (CD105) is an integral membrane glycoprotein that serves as a coreceptor for members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily of proteins. A major role for endoglin in regulating transforming growth factor-β-dependent vascular remodeling and angiogenesis has been postulated based on the following: 1) endoglin is the gene mutated in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 1, a disease characterized by vascular malformations; 2) endoglin knockout mice die at midgestation because of defective angiogenesis; 3) endoglin is overexpressed in neoangiogenic vessels, during inflammation, and in solid tumors; and 4) endoglin regulates the expression and activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, which is involved in angiogenesis and vascular tone. Besides the predominant form of the endoglin receptor (long endoglin isoform), two additional forms of endoglin have been recently reported to play a role in the vascular pathology and homeostasis: the alternatively spliced short endoglin isoform and a soluble endoglin form that is proteolytically cleaved from membrane-bound endoglin. The purpose of this review is to underline the role that the different forms of endoglin play in regulating angiogenesis, vascular remodeling, and vascular tone, as well as to analyze the molecular and cellular mechanisms supporting these effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / physiology*
  • Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena*
  • Endoglin
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Models, Animal
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / physiology
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
  • Transforming Growth Factors / physiology

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • ENG protein, human
  • Endoglin
  • Eng protein, mouse
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Transforming Growth Factors
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase