FUNCTIONAL ROLE OF ESAM IN VASCULAR DEVELOPMENT

这项研究的目的是为了进一步了解与血管形成有关的分子机制。血管的形成不仅对正常发育至关重要，而且在许多疾病的发病机制中起着至关重要的作用。在过去的几十年里，这个复杂过程的分子基础已经得到了细致的表征。血管生成和血管生成都是血管形成的重要组成部分。这些过程需要细胞粘附分子、生长因子、细胞外基质蛋白和细胞内信号通路之间复杂的相互作用。黏附分子已被发现在形态发生、器官发生和血管发生中起关键作用。内皮细胞特异性黏附分子（endothelial cell-specific adhesion molecule， ESAM）是一种新型的免疫球蛋白型黏附分子。ESAM的表达局限于内皮细胞，可能在内皮细胞的发育中起重要作用。研究提出表征ESAM在血管形成中的作用。为了评估该分子在体内的作用，将产生缺乏功能性ESAM的小鼠。将进行体外和动物研究，以确定ESAM是否在血管生成中起作用。

The purpose of this research is to gain further insight into the molecular mechanisms that are involved with blood vessel formation. Blood vessel formation is not only critical for normal development, but plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. The molecular basis of this complex process has been meticulously characterized over the past few decades. Angiogenesis and vasculogenesis are both essential components of blood vessel formation. These processes require elaborate interactions between cell adhesion molecules, growth factors, extracellular matrix proteins, and intracellular signaling pathways. Adhesion molecules have been found to play a pivotal role in morphogenesis, organogenesis, and vasculogenesis. Recently, a novel immunoglobulin-type adhesion molecule named endothelial cell-specific adhesion molecule (ESAM) was cloned. ESAM expression is localized to endothelial cells and may play a fundamental role in endothelial cell development. Studies are proposed to characterize the role of ESAM in blood vessel formation. To evaluate the in vivo role of this molecule, mice lacking functional ESAM will be produced. In vitro and animal studies will be performed to determine whether ESAM plays a role in angiogenesis.