Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule PECAM1 (also called CD31) is a 130 kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein that is expressed on most cells of the hematopoietic lineage including platelets, monocytes, neutrophils and certain lymphocyte subsets (1). It has also been suggested that PECAM-1 contributes to endothelial cell barrier function. However, a number of studies have since shown that the stability of endothelial cell junctions is more easily compromised in the blood vessels of PECAM-1-deficient mice subjected to physiological stress.
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IHC analysis of PECAM1 in rat brain cryosection.
Despite compelling evidence for a role for PECAM-1 as a prominent functional component of the endothelial cell–cell junction, the specific mechanism by which PECAM-1 functions to maintain or repair vascular barrier integrity is still poorly understood. The observation that PECAM-1 becomes highly concentrated at endothelial cell–cell junctions via diffusion trapping suggests that PECAM-1–PECAM-1 homophilic interactions might be required for PECAM-1-mediated barrier protection (2). PECAM-1 also promotes inflammation by facilitating leukocyte trans endothelial migration and by serving as a mechano-sensor for fluid shear stress, but dampens inflammation via its ability to inhibit cellular activation by decreasing leukocyte accumulation at sites of inflammation (3). Elucidating the mechanisms by which PECAM-1 mediates both its pro- and anti-inflammatory effects has the potential to improve our understanding of how cells and tissues integrate these seemingly opposing biological signals in various chronic inflammatory diseases. Novus Biologicals offers a wide selection of top quality PECAM1 antibodies for flow cytometry and many other applications.
Novus Biologicals offers many PECAM1 reagents for your research needs including:
