FUNCTIONAL-PROPERTIES OF HUMAN VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL CADHERIN (7B4 CADHERIN-5), AN ENDOTHELIUM-SPECIFIC CADHERIN/

Human vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin, 7B4/cadherin-5) is a n endothelial-specific cadherin localized at the intercellular junctio ns. To directly investigate the functional role of this molecule we cl oned the full-length cDNA from-human endothelial cells and transfected its coding region into Chinese hamster ovary cells. The product of th e transfected cDNA had the same molecular weight as the natural VE-cad herin in human endothelial cells, and reacted with several VE-cadherin mouse monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, it selectively concentrated at intercellular junctions, where it codistributed with alpha-catenin . VE-cadherin conferred adhesive properties to transfected cells. It m ediated homophilic, calcium-dependent aggregation and cell-to-cell adh esion. In addition, it decreased intercellular permeability to high-mo lecular weight molecules and reduced cell migration rate across a woun ded area. Thus, VE-cadherin may exert a relevant role in endothelial c ell biology through control of the cohesion and organization of the in tercellular junctions.