Fibronectin Fragments Promote Human Retinal Endothelial Cell Adhesion and Proliferation and ERK Activation through α₅β₁Integrin and PI 3-Kinase

Abstract

Fn and its Fn-fs modulate HREC adhesion and proliferation through signal-transduction pathways involving coupling of the alpha(5)beta(1) integrin through PI 3-kinase. Mitogenic signals for endothelial cells from degraded extracellular matrix may contribute to the development of diabetic retinopathy.