Description

The ALK-1 or Activin receptor-like kinase-1 is a type I cell surface receptor for the TGF-beta (transforming growth factor-beta) super family of proteins. It is expressed
predominantly in endothelial cells with moderate expression in smooth muscle cells, myofibroblast, hepatic stellate cells, chondrocytes, monocytes, myoblasts, macrophages and fibroblasts. ALK-1 plays a pivotal role in vascular remodelling and angiogenesis. More specifically its key function is in arterial/venous differentiation during embryonic vascular development.