Endocan also called endothelial cell specific molecule (ESM-1) as a biomarker of endothelial dysfunctions

摘要

Endocan also called endothelial cell-specific-molecule-1 (ESM-1) is a soluble dermatan sulfate proteoglycan newly identified as a biomarker. Endocan / ESM-1 over-expression was consistently revealed by immunohistochemistry using the monoclonal anti-endocan antibody called MEP08, in endothelial cells in hypervascular cancers (i.e clear cell renal cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, haemangioblastoma, glioblastoma), being correlated with poor prognosis and/or metastasis. Furthermore, endocan expression was shown to be linked to microvascular proliferation and was observed in tip cells during neoangiogenesis. Using a sandwich ELISA assay (En-doMark H1, Lunginnov), we demonstrated that endocan blood levels are increased in kidney and lung cancers, in leukemia and in sepsis, when the endothelium get challenged. As today no other marker has been validated in neoangiogenesis and/ or to assess endothelial dysfunction, we have here evaluated the clear pertinence of endocan / ESM-1 as a tissue-based and/or a blood-based biomarker in VEGF-driven cancers, sepsis and vascular diseases.