Enhanced endothelial barrier function by monoclonal antibody activation of vascular endothelial cadherin

Excessive vascular permeability occurs in inflammatory disease processes. Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) is an adhesion protein that controls vascular permeability. We identified monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to human VE-cadherin that activate cell adhesion and inhibit the increased permeability of endothelial cell monolayers induced by thrombin receptor activator peptide-6 (TRAP-6). Two mAbs, 8A12c and 3A5a, reduce permeability,...