CEA-related cell adhesion molecule 1: A potent angiogenic factor and a major effector of vascular endothelial growth factor

CPA-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) exhibits angiogenic properti es in in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis assays. CEACAM1 purified from granu locytes and endothelial cell media as well as recombinant CEACAM1 expressed in HEK293 cells stimulate proliferation, chemotaxis, and capillary-like tu be formation of human microvascular endothelial cells. They increase vascul arization of chick chorioallantoic membrane and potentiate the effects of v ascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)(165). VEGF(165) increases CEACAM1 expression both on the mRNA and the protein level. VEGF(165)-induced endoth elial tube formation is blocked by a monoclonal CEACAM1 antibody. These dat a suggest that CEACAM1 is a major effector of VEGF in the early microvessel formation. Since CEACAM1 is expressed in tumor microvessels but not in lar ge blood vessels, CEACAM1 may be a target for the inhibition of tumor angio genesis.