ISM1

Isthmin 1 (ISM1), alias ISMN, is a secreted glycoprotein that inhibits angiogenesis by suppressing endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation. It interacts with integrins and modulates VEGF-A/VEGFR2 and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways to dampen pro-angiogenic responses in vascular endothelial cells.
Dysregulated ISM1 expression links to diseases: reduced levels promote tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer, while overexpression mitigates pathological angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy. It is being explored as a tumor diagnostic biomarker, with preclinical studies investigating its anti-angiogenic potential for cancer therapy.