Krev1 Interaction Trapped—1/Cerebral Cavernous Malformation—1 protein expression during early angiogenesis

Abstract

The results demonstrate that KRIT1 is expressed during capillary-like tube formation in the early stages of angiogenesis in vitro. Histological examination of placental tissue, a well-established in vivo model of angiogenesis, shows KRIT1 expression in active angiogenic and vasculogenic areas of the immature placental villi. As the placenta matures, KRIT1 expression is restricted to microvascular and small arterial endothelial cells with little or no expression seen in the intima of large vessels. It can therefore be concluded that KRIT1 is expressed during early angiogenesis by endothelial cells and may play a key role in vessel formation and/or development.