Endoglin: An accessory component of the TGF-beta-binding receptor-complex with diagnostic, prognostic, and bioimmunotherapeutic potential in human malignancies

Endoglin (CD105) is a cell membrane glycoprotein over-expressed on highly p roliferating endothelial cells in culture, and on endothelial cells of angi ogenetic blood vessels within benign and malignant tissues. CD105 binds sev eral factors of the Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-beta superfamily, and its over-expression modulates cellular responses to TGF-beta1. The complex of experimental findings accumulated in the last few years strongly indicat e that CD105 is a powerful marker of angiogenesis, and that it might play a critical role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases and in tumor progre ssion. In this paper, we will review the structural, biological and functio nal features of CD105, as well as its distribution within normal and neopla stic tissues, emphasizing its foreseeable role as a molecular target for ne w diagnostic and bioimmunotherapeutic approaches in human malignancies. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.