In vitro characterization of the angiogenic phenotype and genotype of the endothelia derived from sporadic cerebral cavernous malformations.

Background: Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is mainly a disorder of endothelial cells. Although the endothelial function of CCM genes has been characterized in familial CCMs, little attention has been paid to the pathological alterations of the endothelium in sporadic CCMs.

Objective: We assumed that the endothelia derived from sporadic CCMs present genotypic and/or phenotypic alterations and exhibit unique responses to the pathogenic stimuli.