Table 3.
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.