CD146 mediates VEGF-induced melanoma cell extravasation through FAK activation.

CD146 is an adhesion molecule expressed by both melanoma and endothelial cells and thus is well positioned to control melanoma extravasation. Nevertheless, during melanoma metastasis, the involvement of CD146 expressed within tumor microenvironment has never been analyzed. To investigate whether host CD146 mediates the extravasation of melanoma cells across the endothelium, we generated CD146 KO mice.

The involvement of CD146 and its novel ligand Galectin-1 in apoptotic regulation of endothelial cells.

CD146 is a highly glycosylated junctional adhesion molecule, expressed on human vascular endothelial cells and involved in the control of vessel integrity. Galectin-1 is a lectin produced by vascular cells that can binds N- and O-linked oligosaccharides of cell membrane glycoproteins. Because both CD146 and Galectin-1 are involved in modulation of cell apoptosis, we hypothesized that Galectin-1 could interact with CD146, leading to functional consequences in endothelial cell apoptosis.

Fractalkine expression induces endothelial progenitor cell lysis by natural killer cells.

Background: Circulating CD34(+) cells, a population that includes endothelial progenitors, participate in the maintenance of endothelial integrity. Better understanding of the mechanisms that regulate their survival is crucial to improve their regenerative activity in cardiovascular and renal diseases. Chemokine-receptor cross talk is critical in regulating cell homeostasis.

CD146 and its soluble form regulate monocyte transendothelial migration.

Objectives: During inflammation, cell adhesion molecules are modulated or redistributed for leukocyte transmigration. Among molecules at the interendothelial junction, CD146 is involved in cell-cell cohesion and permeability, but its role in monocyte transmigration is unknown.

Methods And Results: TNF enhanced CD146 expression at the junction and apical membrane of human umbilical veins endothelial cells (HUVECs) through CD146 synthesis and intracellular store redistribution.

Mouse CD146/MCAM is a marker of natural killer cell maturation.

CD146/melanoma cell adhesion molecule is an adhesion molecule expressed by endothelial cells and by a small fraction of activated T and B lymphocytes in humans. In order to analyze the pattern of CD146 expression in mouse leukocytes at steady-state conditions, we generated a set of novel rat anti-mouse CD146 monoclonal antibodies. CD146 expression was undetectable on monocytes, dendritic cells, T cells or B cells, but was expressed on about 30% of neutrophils and 60% of NK cells.