Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin
Online ISSN : 1347-5215
Print ISSN : 0918-6158
ISSN-L : 0918-6158
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Role of Aminopeptidase in Angiogenesis
Yasufumi Sato
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2004 Volume 27 Issue 6 Pages 772-776

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Abstract

Microvessels are composed of endothelial cells and surrounding pericytes. Angiogenesis, a neo-vessel formation from pre-existing microvessels, is a complex phenomenon, which requires following sequential steps: detachment of pre-existing pericytes for vascular destabilization, extracellular matrix turnover, migration, proliferation, tube formation by endothelial cells (ECs), and reattachment of pericytes for vascular stabilization. Aminopeptidases regulate the N-terminal modification of proteins and peptides for maturation, activation or degradation, and thereby relate to a variety of biological processes. Recently, three aminopeptidases have been reported to be involved in angiogenesis. They include type 2 methionine aminopeptidase, aminopeptidase N, and adipocyte-derived leucine aminopeptidase/puromycin insensitive leucyl-specific aminopeptidase. This review will focus on the possible role of these aminopeptideses in angiogenesis.

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© 2004 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
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