This book covers basic research topics such as the structure-function relationships of neuropilins and mechanisms of neuropilin-mediated signal transduction, details the most important roles of the neuropilins in developmental biology, and addresses their roles in various conditions such as cancer and various eye diseases.The two neuropilin genes encode scaffold receptors that can bind several different ligands, and also associate with many other receptors and modify their activity. Further, it has been confirmed that they play important roles in the shaping of major organs and tissues such as the nervous system and the vascular system, and that they can modulate immune responses.The book offers a helpful guide for biomedical researchers and all scientists active in the neurosciences, vascular and molecular biology, as well as developmental biology and immunology.

Provides basic as well as current scientific knowledge on neuropilins structure and function

Molecular mechanisms of neuropilin mediated VEGF and other growth factors induced signal transduction.- 1. The role of the neuropilins in VEGF signal transduction.- 2. The role of neuropilins in signaling induced by non-VEGF growth factors.- 3. Structure function studies of neuropilins in the context of their interaction with VEGF and VEGF receptors. Semaphorin signaling.- 1. Stucture function studies of functional class-3 semaphorin receptors.- 2. Control of cytoskeletal organization by class-3 semaphorins.- 3. Control of cell adhesion by class-3 semaphorin activated signaling.- Short Topics. 4. Gating of plexin-D1 function by neuropilin.- 5. Interaction of neuropilins with cell adhesion receptors and its effect on class-3 semaphorin signaling. Neuropilins as a regulators of developmental angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.- 1. Role of neuropilins in the regulation of developmental angiogenesis.- 2. The role of the neuropilins in the development of the lymphatic system.- Short Topics.- 3. The role of the neuropilins in the determination of artery/vein identity.- 4. Neuropilin-1 mediated differentiation of multipotent progenitor cells to endothelial cells.- 5. Role of neuropilin-1 and Phactr-1 in tube formation. Neuropilins as regulators of immune responses 1. Immunological functions of the neuropilins.- Short Topics. 2. Stability and function of regulatory T cells is maintained by a neuropilin-1- semaphorin-4a axis.- 3. Neuropilin 1 guides regulatory T cells into VEGF-producing melanomas. The role of neuropilins in tumor progression 1. Neuropilins as regulators of tumor progression.- Short Topics. 2. Neuropilin-1 on cancer stem cells.- 3. Sema3A induced neuropilin-1 mediated recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells to tumors.- 4. Neuropilins mediate recruitment of macrophages to hypoxic regions in tumors. Nervous system. 1. The role of neuropilins and their semaphorin and VEGF ligands in the development and function of the nervous system.- Short Topics. 2. Neuropilins and neurotrophins in central nervous system development.- The role of neuropilins in retinal development and retinal diseases. 1. The role of the neuropilins in the development of the retina and retinal diseases.