Figure 3. From: Extracellular matrix, inflammation, and the angiogenic response.
Crosstalk between inflammation, endothelial tip cells, and MT1-MMP. Tip cells can be induced by distinct inflammatory pathways (TNFα, bradykinin, NF-κB, and S-1-P) that converge on Rac1 activation and actin polymerization.4 MT1-MMP expression is restricted to the tip cells.23 Several inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide, PGE2, and CCL2/MCP-1) induce MT1-MMP clustering and activity, probably through the activation of Rac1 and actin polymerization, thereby inducing the endothelial tip cell-like phenotype.26–28