Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1) (PECAM-1)

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1), also known as CD31, is a 130 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily, constitutively expressed on endothelial cells, platelets, and most leukocyte subtypes (nih.gov, 1.1.1). It is primarily localized at endothelial cell-cell junctions, where it mediates homophilic and heterophilic interactions essential for maintaining vascular barrier integrity and regulating leukocyte transendothelial migration (ahajournals.org, 1.2.5). PECAM-1 functions as a signaling receptor through its cytoplasmic immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs), which, upon phosphorylation, recruit phosphatases such as SHP-2 to modulate cellular activation and mechanotransduction (nih.gov, 1.2.4). In pathological contexts, PECAM-1 is a key driver of atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and tumor-induced angiogenesis, making it a significant target for therapeutic intervention (patsnap.com, 1.2.1). Therapeutic modulation of PECAM-1 signaling aims to disrupt inflammatory cell recruitment in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis or to inhibit angiogenesis in cancer (wikipedia.org, 1.3.3). Conversely, enhancing its inhibitory signaling or barrier-stabilizing functions offers potential for treating vascular permeability disorders and ischemia-reperfusion injury (nih.gov, 1.2.4).

Other names

CD31EndoCAMGPIIA'PECA1PCAM-1Cluster of differentiation 31

Modulation of ITIM-mediated signaling and recruitment of SHP-2 to inhibit or enhance cellular activation and maintain vascular integrity (nih.gov, 1.2.4; ahajournals.org, 1.2.5).