Angiopoietin 1 is a type of angiopoietin and is encoded by the gene ANGPT1.
Angiopoietins are proteins with important roles in vascular development and angiogenesis. All angiopoietins bind with similar affinity to an endothelial cell-specific tyrosine-protein kinase receptor. The protein encoded by this gene is a secreted glycoprotein that activates the receptor by inducing its tyrosine phosphorylation. It plays a critical role in mediating reciprocal interactions between the endothelium and surrounding matrix and mesenchyme. The protein also contributes to blood vessel maturation and stability, and may be involved in early development of the heart. [5] During pregnancy, angiopoietins act complementary to the VEGF system and contribute to endothelial cell survival and the remodeling of vessels. Few studies have examined the role of angiopoietins in human pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
A knockout model of ANGPT1 was introduced in mice embryos. Results showed that embryos began to appear abnormal by day 11 and were dead by day 12.5 of pregnancy. The embryos showed prominent defects in endocardial and myocardial development as well as a less complex vascular network.
Angiopoietin 1 has been shown to interact with TEK tyrosine kinase. [8] [9] [10] [11]
Recently, studies in malaria-endemic areas suggest that placental malaria (PM) may be associated with a dysregulation in angiopoietins. Increased levels of angiopoietin-1 appear to be associated with a decrease in placental weight and placental barrier thickness in women infected with Plasmodium (the causative agent of malaria). [12] In a mouse model of PM, Plasmodium infection of pregnant mice led to decreased angiopoietin-1, increased angiopoietin-2, and an elevated ratio of angiopoietin-2/angiopoietin-1 in the placenta. [13] This suggests that angiopoietin levels could be clinically significant biomarkers to identify mothers infected with PM.
Endostatin is a naturally occurring, 20-kDa C-terminal fragment derived from type XVIII collagen. It is reported to serve as an anti-angiogenic agent, similar to angiostatin and thrombospondin.
George D. Yancopoulos is a Greek-American biomedical scientist who is the co-founder, president and chief scientific officer of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), also known as tyrosine receptor kinase B, or BDNF/NT-3 growth factors receptor or neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor, type 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NTRK2 gene. TrkB is a receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The standard pronunciation for this protein is "track bee".
Eph receptors are a group of receptors that are activated in response to binding with Eph receptor-interacting proteins (Ephrins). Ephs form the largest known subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Both Eph receptors and their corresponding ephrin ligands are membrane-bound proteins that require direct cell-cell interactions for Eph receptor activation. Eph/ephrin signaling has been implicated in the regulation of a host of processes critical to embryonic development including axon guidance, formation of tissue boundaries, cell migration, and segmentation. Additionally, Eph/ephrin signaling has been identified to play a critical role in the maintenance of several processes during adulthood including long-term potentiation, angiogenesis, and stem cell differentiation and cancer.
Neurotrophin-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NTF3 gene.
Angiopoietin is part of a family of vascular growth factors that play a role in embryonic and postnatal angiogenesis. Angiopoietin signaling most directly corresponds with angiogenesis, the process by which new arteries and veins form from preexisting blood vessels. Angiogenesis proceeds through sprouting, endothelial cell migration, proliferation, and vessel destabilization and stabilization. They are responsible for assembling and disassembling the endothelial lining of blood vessels. Angiopoietin cytokines are involved with controlling microvascular permeability, vasodilation, and vasoconstriction by signaling smooth muscle cells surrounding vessels. There are now four identified angiopoietins: ANGPT1, ANGPT2, ANGPTL3, ANGPT4.
Glycoprotein 130 is a transmembrane protein which is the founding member of the class of tall cytokine receptors. It forms one subunit of the type I cytokine receptor within the IL-6 receptor family. It is often referred to as the common gp130 subunit, and is important for signal transduction following cytokine engagement. As with other type I cytokine receptors, gp130 possesses a WSXWS amino acid motif that ensures correct protein folding and ligand binding. It interacts with Janus kinases to elicit an intracellular signal following receptor interaction with its ligand. Structurally, gp130 is composed of five fibronectin type-III domains and one immunoglobulin-like C2-type (immunoglobulin-like) domain in its extracellular portion.
The angiopoietin receptors are receptors that bind angiopoietin. TIE-1 and TIE-2 comprise the cell-surface receptors that bind and are activated by the angiopoietins,. The angiopoietins are protein growth factors required for the formation of blood vessels (angiogenesis).
Angiopoietin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ANGPT2 gene.
Growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 also known as insulin receptor-binding protein Grb-IR is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GRB10 gene.
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FLT1 gene.
Ephrin-B2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EFNB2 gene.
Angiopoietin-1 receptor also known as CD202B is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TEK gene. Also known as TIE2, it is an angiopoietin receptor.
EPH receptor A2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EPHA2 gene.
Ephrin type-B receptor 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EPHB1 gene.
Discoidin domain-containing receptor 2, also known as CD167b, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DDR2 gene. Discoidin domain-containing receptor 2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK).
Glucocorticoid receptor DNA-binding factor 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GRLF1 gene.
Angiopoietin-4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ANGPT4 gene.
Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the VEGFA gene.
Thomas N. Sato is a prominent Japanese educator, entrepreneur, and biologist, whose research focuses on understanding molecular basis of cancer, cardiac disease and metabolic diseases by using a number of animal models including mice, zebrafish and fruit flies. He is also working to invent next-generation therapeutics for human diseases based on the stochastic basis of life and disease. He is currently director of the Thomas N. Sato BioMEC-X Laboratories at the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) in Kyoto, research director of the ERATO Sato Live Bio-forecasting project JST in Kyoto, scientific founder and chair of board of directors Karydo TherapeutiX, Inc, professor of Virtual Human InformatiX Clinic in Nara, and affiliate professor at Centenary Institute in Sydney, Australia. He is also a triathlete who competes at Ironman distance including Ironman Lake Placid, Ironman Japan, Ironman Coeur d’Alene.
This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.