Differential expression of integrin cell-substratum adhesion receptors on endothelium.

The interactions of the endothelial cells with their underlying extracellular matrix is of fundamental importance to angiogenesis. Therefore, the distribution of integrin cell-substratum adhesion receptors on cultured and in situ endothelial cells was determined. Cultured endothelium from large and small vessels and large vessel endothelial cells in situ expressed integrins that bound to both basement membrane and inflammatory matrix components. In contrast, in situ microvessels primarily expressed basement membrane binding integrins. Alterations in the expression of the integrins on microvessel endothelial cells may be important for microvascular remodeling during wound healing and/or angiogenesis.