Tyrosine-protein kinase Tie-2 (Tie2)

Tyrosine-protein kinase Tie-2 is an endothelial-specific receptor tyrosine kinase encoded by the *TEK* gene. Located at the endothelial cell surface, Tie-2 binds the angiopoietins (primarily angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2), which regulate its activation. Ligand engagement induces Tie2 dimerization and clustering, leading to autophosphorylation and activation of intracellular signaling cascades essential for blood vessel maturation, stabilization, and maintenance of vascular integrity. Dysregulation of Tie-2 signaling contributes to pathologies such as tumor angiogenesis, inflammatory vascular leakage, and primary congenital glaucoma. Therapeutic targeting of Tie-2 focuses on modulating angiopoietin binding or blocking its kinase activity to influence vascular remodeling in disease contexts[1][3][6][8].

Other names

TEK (gene name)Tunica interna endothelial cell kinaseTyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like and EGF-like domains 2