VE-Statin/EGFL7

EGFL7 (VE-Statin) is an ∼ 30 kDa secreted protein that contains an Emilin-like (EMI) domain (a multimerization motif), and two epidermal growth factor (EGF) domains, one of which binds calcium. Based on these domains, it has been hypothesized that EGFL7 may self-assemble like extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and, thus, could incorporate into ECM. EGFL7 has been reported to stimulate cell adhesion as well as motility in a manner similar to ECM proteins. EGFL7 has been shown to be primarily expressed by developing ECs but also by primordial germ cells and some central nervous system neurons. Interestingly, EGFL7 expression markedly decreases in ECs in postnatal life, but can be strongly up-regulated after various tissue injuries that lead to increased angiogenic responses.