Figure 8.

Schematic summarizing heparin/HS-dependent Tmem184a effects on vascular cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. We have shown Tmem184a is expressed specifically on vascular cells. (A) In vitro, we have shown that exogenous heparin binds specifically to TMEM184A to induce MAPK signaling which decreases proliferation. (B) When Tmem184a is knocked down in vivo, cell proliferation increases. (C) Administration of excess heparin in vivo will also decrease cell proliferation, even though endogenous HS are present.