Abstract
Eph receptors and their ephrin ligands are important guidance molecules during neurological and vascular development. In recent years, it has become clear that the Eph protein family remains functional in adult physiology. A subset of Ephs and ephrins is highly expressed by endothelial cells. As endothelial cells form the first barrier between the blood and surrounding tissues, maintenance of a healthy endothelium is crucial for tissue homeostasis. This review gives an overview of the current insights of the role of ephrin ligands and receptors in endothelial function and leukocyte recruitment in the (patho)physiology of adult vascular biology.
Highlights
The erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptors (Ephs) super family is the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in humans
For EphB2, Eph receptor B4 (EphB4) and ephrinB2, protein has been detected in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) [34]
EphB3 has been shown to be expressed in HUVEC, HAEC and HDMEC, while it could not be detected in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) [35]
Summary
The Eph super family is the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in humans. Besides remaining functional in the adult brain where they are involved in the remodeling of neuronal circuits, Eph family members can modulate angiogenesis, immunoregulation, bone maintenance and glucose and intestinal homeostasis [2,5]. Resulting from having such a broad range of regulatory functions, ephrins are associated with several pathologies e.g., cancer and inflammatory diseases such as fibrosis and atherosclerosis [5]. Most of the cellular pathways activated by ephrin forward signaling are involved in the regulation of the cytoskeletal dynamics of cells and therewith can modulate cellular processes such as migration, adhesion and proliferation [7,8].
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