Type IV collagen is the major structural component of glomerular basement membranes (GBM), forming a ‘chicken-wire’ meshwork together with laminins, proteoglycans and entactin/nidogen.; Canstatin, a cleavage product corresponding to the collagen alpha 2(IV) NC1 domain, possesses both anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor cell activity. It inhibits proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, reduces mitochondrial membrane potential, and induces apoptosis. Specifically induces Fas-dependent apoptosis and activates procaspase-8 and -9 activity. Ligand for alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 integrins.
