Defining the molecular basis of interaction between R3 receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatases and VE-cadherin

Passing the Vascular Barrier: Endothelial Signaling Processes Controlling Extravasation

A central function of the vascular endothelium is to serve as a barrier between the blood and the surrounding tissue of the body. At the same time, solutes and cells have to pass the endothelium to leave or to enter the bloodstream to maintain homeostasis. Under pathological conditions, for example, inflammation, permeability for fluid and cells is largely increased in the affected area, thereby facilitating host defense. To appropriately function as a regulated permeability filter, the endothelium uses various mechanisms to allow solutes and cells to pass the endothelial layer. These include transcellular and paracellular pathways of which the latter requires remodeling of intercellular junctions for its regulation. This review provides an overview on endothelial barrier regulation and focuses on the endothelial signaling mechanisms controlling the opening and closing of paracellular pathways for solutes and cells such as leukocytes and metastasizing tumor cells.

The difference in serum proteomes in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

Purpose of study is revealing significant differences in serum proteomes in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD).

RESULTS

Quantitative mass-spectrometry based proteomic analysis was used to quantify proteins in the blood serum samples after the depletion of six major blood proteins. Comparison of proteome profiles of different groups revealed 27 proteins being specific for schizophrenia, and 18 - for BD. Protein set in schizophrenia was mostly associated with immune response, cell communication, cell growth and maintenance, protein metabolism and regulation of nucleic acid metabolism. Protein set in BD was mostly associated with immune response, regulating transport processes across cell membrane and cell communication, development of neurons and oligodendrocytes and cell growth. Concentrations of ankyrin repeat domain-containing protein 12 (ANKRD12) and cadherin 5 in serum samples were determined by ELISA. Significant difference between three groups was revealed in ANKRD12 concentration (p = 0.02), with maximum elevation of ANKRD12 concentration (median level) in schizophrenia followed by BD. Cadherin 5 concentration differed significantly (p = 0.035) between schizophrenic patients with prevailing positive symptoms (4.78 [2.71, 7.12] ng/ml) and those with prevailing negative symptoms (1.86 [0.001, 4.11] ng/ml).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results are presumably useful for discovering the new pathways involved in endogenous psychotic disorders.