Modulation of Endothelial Tight Junctions by Thrombospondin-1
Final Report Abstract
In summary we demonstrated that, although Thrombospondin-1 exerts long-term antiangiogenic properties, short-term exposure to Thrombospondin-1 results in opening of cellcell junctions, increased permeability and migration as well as decreased TER. We also demonstrated that short-term effects of Thrombospondin-1 may be submitted via CD36/ Src signalling and RhoA/ROCK-dependent modulation of the actin cytoskeleton. These data are subject of a manuscript that is currently in preparation. We also showed for the first time, that expression and cellular distribution of the eNOS-shuttle protein Nostrin is influenced by Thrombospondin-1. We also demonstrated that Nostrin interacts with proteins associated with cell-cell or cell-matrix components like adherens and tight junctions as well as desmosomes.
