Endothelial cell surface antigens

Endothelial cell surface antigens represent a heterogeneous group of proteins, glycoproteins, and receptors expressed on the plasma membrane of cells lining the blood and lymphatic vessels (ciberonc.es). This collective term encompasses critical regulatory molecules such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptors (VEGFRs), which are primary drivers of angiogenesis, and cell adhesion molecules like ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin, which facilitate leukocyte recruitment during inflammation (yale.edu, nih.gov). Other prominent members include CD31 (PECAM-1), CD144 (VE-cadherin), and CD105 (Endoglin), all of which are essential for maintaining vascular integrity and signaling (ahajournals.org, physiology.org). These antigens serve as vital therapeutic targets in oncology, where anti-angiogenic drugs like ramucirumab inhibit vessel growth, and in inflammatory diseases, where antibodies modulate endothelial-leukocyte interactions (oncotarget.com). Additionally, anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) targeting these surface molecules are implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, such as vasculitis and systemic lupus erythematosus (semanticscholar.org, nih.gov). In clinical research, these surface markers are also utilized as biomarkers to identify and isolate circulating endothelial progenitor cells for assessing vascular health and repair potential (physiology.org).

Other names

Endothelial surface markersVascular endothelial antigensEndothelial cell markersAnti-endothelial cell antibody targetsAECA targets

Inhibition of angiogenesis, modulation of leukocyte recruitment, and maintenance of vascular barrier integrity through direct binding to surface receptors or adhesion molecules, or by blocking their interactions with circulating ligands and cells (yale.edu, oncotarget.com).