Junctional Adhesion Molecule A Expressed on Human CD34 ⁺ Cells Promotes Adhesion on Vascular Wall and Differentiation Into Endothelial Progenitor Cells

Abstract

These results indicate that the expression of JAM-A on CD34(+) cells mediates adhesion to the vascular wall after injury and differentiation into endothelial progenitor cells, a mechanism potentially involved in vascular regeneration. Human CD34(+) cells express JAM-A, mediating their interaction with platelets and endothelial cells. Specifically, JAM-A expressed on human CD34(+) progenitor cells regulates their adhesion over immobilized platelets or inflammatory endothelium under high shear stress in vitro and after carotid ligation in vivo or ischemia/reperfusion injury in the microcirculation of mice. Moreover, it mediates differentiation of CD34(+) cells to endothelial progenitor cells and facilitates reendothelialization.