Neuroligin 1 Induces Blood Vessel Maturation by Cooperating with the α6 Integrin
Neuroligin 1 Induces Blood Vessel Maturation by Cooperating with the α6 Integrin
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DOI：
10.1074/jbc.m113.530972
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发表时间：
2014-07-11
影响因子：
4.8
通讯作者：
Arese, Marco
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Samarelli, Anna Valeria;Riccitelli, Elena;Arese, Marco
The synaptic protein Neuroligin 1 (NLGN1), a cell adhesion molecule, is critical for the formation and consolidation of synaptic connectivity and is involved in vascular development. The mechanism through which NLGN1 acts, especially in vascular cells, is unknown. Here, we aimed at deepening our knowledge on the cellular activities and molecular pathways exploited by endothelial NLGN1 both in vitro and in vivo. We analyzed the phenotypic consequences of NLGN1 expression modulation in endothelial cells through in vitro angiogenesis assays and the mouse postnatal retinal angiogenesis model. We demonstrate that NLGN1, whereas not affecting endothelial cell proliferation or migration, modulates cell adhesion to the vessel stabilizing protein laminin through cooperation with the alpha 6 integrin, a specific laminin receptor. Finally, we show that in vivo, NLGN1 and alpha 6 integrin preferentially colocalize in the mature retinal vessels, whereas NLGN1 deletion causes an aberrant VE-cadherin, laminin and alpha 6 integrin distribution in vessels, along with significant structural defects in the vascular tree.
