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. 2009 Jul 7;15(3):353–370. doi: 10.1089/ten.teb.2009.0085

Table 3.

Vascular Cell Markers at Different Stages of Differentiation

Endothelial cell markers
Early/differentiation
Constitutive phenotype
Activated phenotype
Marker Function Marker Function Marker Function
CD34 Hematopoietic precursor marker PECAM-1 (CD31) Platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1; role in leukocyte recruitment, migration VCAM-1 (CD106) Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1; upregulated by inflammatory cytokines
PECAM-1 (CD31) Surface adhesion molecule eNOS Endothelial nitric oxide synthase; production of NO, regulation of vascular function ICAM-1 (CD54) Intercellular adhesion molecule-1; upregulated by inflammatory cytokines
VE-cadherin Surface marker; cell-cell junctions Factor VIII Clotting factor in thrombotic pathway E-selectin (CD62E) Inflammation-induced adhesion molecule
    VE-cadherin Cell-cell junctions, demonstrates confluent endothelium P-selectin (CD62P) Cytokine-activated adhesion molecule
    vWF von Willebrand factor, clotting protein    
SMC markers
Early/differentiation
Synthetic phenotype
Contractile phenotype
Marker Function Marker Function Marker Function
SM α-actin Contractile protein of SMCs; first marker of differentiated SMCs ↓ SM α-actin Contractile protein of SMCs ↑ SM α-actin Contractile protein of SMCs
Calponin Potential regulator of SM contraction ↓ Calponin Potential regulator of SM contraction ↑ Calponin Potential regulator of SM contraction
SM-22-α Calponin-related cytoskeletal protein SMC-specific marker ↑ SMemb/NMHC-B Embryonic/nonmuscle isoform of myosin heavy chain ↑ SM-MHC Smooth muscle myosin heavy chain essential component of contractile system
Caldesmon Protein that binds calmodulin, actin, myosin ↓ Caldesmon Binds Ca2+-calmodulin, actin, myosin; mediates Ca2+-depandent SM contraction inhibition ↑ Caldesmon Binds calmodulin, actin, myosin; mediates Ca2+-dependent SM contraction inhibition
Tropomyosin Rod-like proteins in tight association with action ↓ Tropomyosin Binds to actin grooves; mediates Ca2+-dependent regulation of actin–myosin interaction ↑ Tropomyosin Binds to actin grooves; mediates Ca2+-dependent regulation of actin–myosin interaction
        Elastin Extracellular matrix protein; source of vessal compliance

References [49–62]

PECAM-1, platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1; VE-cadherin, vascular endothelial cadherin; eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase; vWF, von Willebrand factor; VCAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1; ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1; SM, smooth muscle; NMHC-B, non-muscle myosin heavy chain-B; MHC, myosin heavy chain.