Angiogenesis plays vital roles in various physiological and pathological processes and involves multiple interactions of various cell adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix (ECM) components which facilitate endothelial cell migration, proliferation, and vessel formation during the different stages of angiogenesis, helping to regulate blood vessel formation. Adhesion molecules-proteins present on the surfaces of cells that mediate their interactions with other cells and the surrounding environment- play critical roles in angiogenesis, facilitating various cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions necessary for blood vessel formation. For example, integrins, a family of transmembrane adhesion receptors, are particularly important. Integrins such as αvβ3, αvβ5, and α5β1 are important for endothelial cell adhesion and migration during angiogenesis. Integrins bind to specific ECM components, such as fibronectin, collagen, and laminin, thereby allowing endothelial cells to both adhere to, and migrate through, the ECM. These adhesive processes are essential for sprouting angiogenesis, whereby endothelial cells extend cellular extensions to form new vessel branches. Adhesion molecules also help in transmitting signals that then guide the direction of vessel growth and regulate the proliferation and survival of endothelial cells. Cadherins are calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules that mediate cell-cell interactions. In angiogenesis, vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) is a critical molecule that helps maintain the integrity of endothelial cell-cell junctions and regulates vessel formation. Finally, selectins are an additional family of cell adhesion molecules involved in leukocyte recruitment and interactions with endothelial cells in angiogenesis. E-selectin and P-selectin, for example, play a role in angiogenesis by facilitating interactions between circulating endothelial progenitor cells and the endothelium. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic network of proteins and carbohydrates that provides structural support and biochemical cues to cells. In angiogenesis, the ECM serves as both a scaffold and a signalling platform. For example, within the ECM, the glycoprotein fibronectin serves as a substrate for cell adhesion, interacting with integrins on endothelial cells and promoting their migration and proliferation during angiogenesis. Various types of collagens are also present in the ECM and provide structural support to blood vessels. For example, Collagen type IV is a major component of the basement membrane, which separates endothelial cells from surrounding tissues and plays a role in vessel stability. Laminins are heterotrimeric glycoproteins also found in the basement membrane. They are important for cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation during angiogenesis with laminin isoforms, such as laminin-411 and laminin-511, implicated in promoting angiogenesis. Proteoglycans are complex ECM molecules that consist of a protein core linked to glycosaminoglycan chains. They regulate the binding of growth factors and cytokines in the ECM, which can influence angiogenesis. For example, heparan sulphate proteoglycans, such as perlecan, are involved in modulating the activity of angiogenic factors such as VEGF and bFGF/FGF-2. Finally, some ECM components, when cleaved by proteases, release bioactive fragments that influence angiogenesis. For example, endostatin is a proteolytic cleavage product of the C-terminal domain of collagen XVIII that exhibits anti-angiogenic properties, whilst tumstatin, a fragment of the α3 chain of laminin-5, has anti-angiogenic effects by inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. We offer a comprehensive product range of research tools for studying adhesion and ECM, including FAK antibodies, Fibronectin antibodies, CD41 antibodies, Osteopontin ELISA Kits, and MMP9 ELISA Kits. Explore our full adhesion and ECM product range below and discover more, for less. Alternatively, you can explore our Matrix Metalloproteinases, Extracellular Matrix, and Integrins product ranges.