VE-cadherin

Cadherin 5, type 2 or VE-cadherin (vascular endothelial) also known as CD144 (Cluster of Differentiation 144), is a type of is_associated_with::cadherin. It is encoded by the human is_associated_with::gene CDH5.

Function
VE-cadherin is a classical cadherin from the cadherin superfamily and the gene is located in a six-cadherin cluster in a region on the long arm of chromosome 16 that is involved in loss of heterozygosity events in breast and prostate cancer. The encoded protein is a calcium-dependent cell–cell adhesion is_associated_with::glycoprotein composed of five extracellular cadherin repeats, a transmembrane region and a highly conserved cytoplasmic tail. Functioning as a classic cadherin by imparting to cells the ability to adhere in a homophilic manner, the protein may play an important role in endothelial cell biology through control of the cohesion and organization of the intercellular junctions.

Integrity of intercellular junctions is a major determinant of permeability of the is_associated_with::endothelium, and the VE-cadherin-based adherens junction is thought to be particularly important. VE-cadherin is known to be required for maintaining a restrictive endothelial barrier – early studies using blocking antibodies to VE-cadherin increased monolayer permeability in cultured cells and resulted in interstitial edema and hemorrhage in vivo.

VE-cadherin is indispensable for proper vascular development – there have been two transgenic mouse models of VE-cadherin deficiency, both embryonic lethal due to vascular defects. Further studies using one of these models revealed that although is_associated_with::vasculogenesis occurred, nascent vessels collapsed or disassembled in the absence of VE-cadherin. Therefore it was concluded that VE-cadherin serves the purpose of maintaining newly formed vessels.

Interactions
VE-cadherin has been shown to interact with:
 * is_associated_with::Beta-catenin
 * is_associated_with::Plakoglobin
 * is_associated_with::PTPRB
 * is_associated_with::Catenin (cadherin-associated protein), alpha 1
 * is_associated_with::CTNND1
 * PTPmu (is_associated_with::PTPRM)
 * PTPrho (is_associated_with::PTPRT)