CD31 is a 130-kD glycoprotein of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily expressed on the surface of endothelial cells, platelets, and several leukocyte subsets. Previous reports indicated that CD31 can mediate intercellular adhesion via both homophilic and heterophilic interaction mechanisms. Using a soluble recombinant CD31-Ig fusion protein (CD31 receptor globulin [Rg]), we demonstrate here that...

Although CD38, a marker of poor prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), is known primarily as an ecto-enzyme, it has also been ascribed a receptor function. Interaction with its proposed ligand CD31 expressed on nurse-like cells would result in proliferative and survival-signals. Yet, in CLL, both homotypic and heterotypic CD31-CD38 interactions are expected to be rather ubiquitous. We...

CD31+ is a marker for recent thymic emigrants. Nevertheless it is present in a proportion of memory cells. We looked at the distribution of CD31 on CD4 T-cell subpopulations. In cord blood, CD31 was present in the majority of the CD45RA high and 60% of the CD45RA low cells, and in adults over 70% of “true” naïve and in 5–10% of all memory subpopulations (central memory, effector memory, follicu...

The CD31 (platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 [PECAM-1]/endothelial cell adhesion molecule [endoCAM]) molecule expressed on leukocytes, platelets, and endothelial cells is postulated to mediate adhesion to endothelial cells and thereby function in immunity, inflammation, and wound healing. We report the following novel features of CD31 which suggests a role for it in adhesion amplific...

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can be isolated from human bone marrow or peripheral blood and reportedly contribute to neovascularization. Aptamers are 40-120-mer nucleotides that bind to a specific target molecule, as antibodies do. To utilize apatmers for isolation of EPCs, in the present study, we successfully generated aptamers that recognize human CD31, an endothelial cell marker. CD3...

RATIONALE Bone marrow (BM) cells play an important role in physiological and therapeutic neovascularization. However, it remains unclear whether any specific uncultured BM cell populations have higher angiogenic and vasculogenic activities. Moreover, there has been controversy regarding the vasculogenic ability of BM cells. OBJECTIVE Preliminary flow cytometric analysis showed that CD31, trad...

To protect the body efficiently from infectious organisms, leukocytes circulate as nonadherent cells in the blood and lymph, and migrate as adherent cells into tissues. Circulating leukocytes in the blood have first to adhere to and then to cross the endothelial lining. CD31/PECAM-1 is an adhesion molecule expressed by vascular endothelial cells, platelets, monocytes, neutrophils, and naive T l...

Fifteen rabbits were used to assess the effect of Lipo-PGE1 on neovascularization. Merocel(®) and Alloderm(®) of the same size were implanted separately under the back skin to act as matrices for vessel growth. Lipo-PGE1 was injected intravenously for 2 weeks in an experimental group of eight rabbits, and they were compared with a control group of seven untreated animals. Blood flow was measure...

CD31 is a transmembrane molecule endowed with T cell regulatory functions owing to the presence of 2 immunotyrosine-based inhibitory motifs. For reasons not understood, CD31 is lost by a portion of circulating T lymphocytes, which appear prone to uncontrolled activation. In this study, we show that extracellular T cell CD31 comprising Ig-like domains 1 to 5 is cleaved and shed from the surface ...

Platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1; CD31), a member of the Ig superfamily, is expressed strongly at endothelial cell-cell junctions, on platelets, and on most leukocytes. CD31 has been postulated to play a role in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, and has been implicated as a key mediator of the transendothelial migration of leukocytes. To further define the physiologic role ...