Expression of cadherin superfamily genes in brain vascular development.

Cadherins are Ca2+-dependent cell adhesion molecules that are important in vertebrate nervous system development. We identified seven members of the cadherin superfamily (cadherin-4, cadherin-5, cadherin-6, cadherin-6, cadherin-11, protocadherin-1, and protocadherin-17) and an intracellular binding partner of delta-protocadherins, protein phosphatase 1alpha, as novel markers for developing blood vessels in the ferret brain. Some of the cadherin molecules are restricted to specific brain regions or a subset of blood vessels. The expression levels show a peak during perinatal vascular development. Our results suggest that multiple cadherins, which are also involved in neurogenesis, are regulators of angiogenesis in developing vertebrate brain.