MMRN2 is an extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein named Multimerin2 (MMRN2) previously known as EndoGlyx-1, which has been shown to be specifically expressed in endothelial cells of vascular origin. MMRN2 is found along the blood vessels in close contact with endothelial cells in normal and tumor vasculature and contributes to the maintenance of blood vessels’ homeostasis by affecting the VEGF-A/VEGFR2 axis (Lorenzon et al., 2012). Neither proliferation nor apoptotic rate are affected. By preventing the interaction of VEGF-A with VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, MMRN2 reduces their activation and impaires the non-integrin dependent motility of endothelial cells. It is conceivable that MMRN2 attains a high endothelial cells pericellular concentration and thus competes for the binding of VEGF-A to its receptors. MMRN2 may thus represent a novel key homeostatic molecule indispensable for the maintenance of blood vessel integrity. This antibody has been successfully used in detection ELISA, immunohistochemistry and immunoblot assays. MMRN2 is highly specific for endothelium and stains all endothelial cells.
