CD47-dependent molecular mechanisms of blood outgrowth endothelial cell attachment on cholesterol-modified polyurethane.

We previously showed that blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) had a high affinity for polyurethane (PU) covalently configured with cholesterol residues (PU-Chol). However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for this enhanced affinity were not determined. CD47, a multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein involved in cellular attachment, can form a cholesterol-dependent complex with integrin alpha(v)beta(3) and heterotrimeric G proteins.