The functions of thrombospondin-1 and-2

Considerable progress has been made towards understanding the function of t hrombospondin-l and -2. The description of the phenotype of mice with throm bospondin-l and -2 knocked-out supports in vitro biochemical and cell-biolo gical data and has opened new avenues of research. Recently, our understand ing of the roles of thrombospondins in the activation of TG F beta, inhibit ion of angiogenesis and the initiation of signal transduction has advanced.