Apoptosis regulator through modulating IAP expression (ARIA) controls the PI3K/Akt pathway in endothelial and endothelial progenitor cells.

ABSTRACT: Endothelial and endothelial progenitor cells (ECs and EPCs) play a fundamental role in angiogenesis that is essential for numerous physiological and pathological processes. The phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/ phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway has been implicated in angiogenesis, but the mechanism in the regulation of this pathway in ECs and EPCs is poorly understood. Here we show that ARIA (apoptosis regulator through modulating IAP expression), a transmembrane protein that we recently identified, regulates the PTEN/PI3K pathway in ECs and EPCs and controls developmental and postnatal angiogenesis in vivo. We found that ARIA is abundantly expressed in EPCs and regulates their angiogenic functions by modulating PI3K/Akt/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) signaling. Genet

SUBMITTER: Koide M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3111316 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature