ABSTRACT
Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) is a transmembrane adhesion protein of specific expression on vascular endothelial cell surface. It mediates the adhesion between adjacent endothelial cells. It plays important roles in maintaining vascular integrity, regulating permeability between endothelial cells, leukocyte extravasation, and intracellular signal transduction. In addition to its adhesion properties, VE-cadherin also participants in regulating various intracellular processes, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis as well as modulating the function of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor. Consequently, VE-cadherin is essential for angiogenesis and postnatal neovascularization during embryogenesis. It plays important roles by participating in angiogenesis in the processes of atherosclerosis of various aspects.