We conclude that CLEC14A-MMRN2 binding has a role in inducing sprouting angiogenesis during tumour growth, which has the potential to be manipulated in future antiangiogenic therapy design.
Implanted tumor growth was profoundly reduced in CLEC14A-KO mice compared with that seen in WT littermates, but tumor-bearing CLEC14A-KO mice died sooner.
The C-type lectin domain containing group 14 family members CLEC14A and CD93 are proteins expressed by endothelium and are implicated in tumour angiogenesis.
CLEC14a (C-type lectin domain family 14 member) is a tumor endothelial cell marker protein that is known to play an important role in tumor angiogenesis, but the basic molecular mechanisms underlying this function have not yet been clearly elucidated.