Construction of multi-functional extracellular matrix proteins that inhibits migration and tube formation of endothelial cells

Artificial extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins have been designed that have strong cell-adhesive activity and active functional units that inhibit network formation among vascular endothelial cells. A laminin-derived sequence (YIGSR) that blocks migration of vascular endothelial cells was designed to incorporate into an elastin-derived structural unit. The designed ECM fusion protein also had a cell-adhesive RGDN sequence that conferred an intense migration-inhibitory effect. The resultant ECM showed cell-adhesive activity superior to that of the synthetic YIGSR peptide and it blocked the migration of vascular endothelial cells. Furthermore, the designed ECM inhibited the angiogenic activity of a collagen gel. The engineering strategy of designing multi-functional ECM proteins could be applied to support novel tissue engineering techniques.