The significance of cadherin for cell–cell interactions and cell adhesions on biomaterials

AbstractCadherins are surface glycoproteins on plasma membranes and exist in many forms: T-cadherin, neuronal cadherin (N-cadherin), epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), and vascular endothelial (VE-cadherin). Cadherins play critical roles in cell–cell interactions and are involved in multiple functions related to cell growth and proliferation. Findings from numerous reports have indicated that VE-cadherin regulates the remodeling, gating, and maturation of vascular vessels. The surface morphology of materials also impacts endothelial cell adhesion. This report is an overview of recent research on the effects of cadherins on cell–cell interactions, along with cell adhesions as examined on different materials. This summary will provide novel insights and approaches for research on cell–cell and cell–material interactions and illuminate some of the mechanisms of cell growth on different materials.Keywords: cadherinendothelial cellscell–cell reactionsurface morphologyvascular vessels AcknowledgmentsThis work has been supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 51003014 and Grant No. 81371648) and the 111 project ‘Biomedical Textile Materials Science and Technology’ (grant number B07024) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities. Great appreciation to the help of Dr Ruixiu Wang and Dr Lixin Song.Additional informationFundingThis work has been supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51003014], [grant number 81371648]; the 111 project ‘Biomedical Textile Materials Science and Technology’ [grant number B07024].