The members of the large family of matricellular proteins including thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) play important roles in genesis and remodeling of multiple tissues including cartilage and vasculature. TSP1 is one of the important pivots that regulate vascular tissue homeostasis whereas its key function is the negative control of angiogenesis. TSP1 was the first naturally occurring protein inhibitor of angiogenesis to be identified; its anti-angiogenic effects have since been established in a multitude of experimental models and linked to specific epitopes in the multi-domain, multi-functional TSP1 molecule. TSP1 is the first identified, and therefore best studied thrombospondin family representative, its structure is thus considered as prototype for the other family members. In the thrombospondin family, another member, TSP2 has a similar domain structure and, non-surprisingly, its functions significantly overlap with those of TSP1. Specifically, both TSP1 and TSP2 potently inhibit angiogenesis.

TSP-1 Induced Apoptosis in Microvascular Endothelial Cell References