Davis S, et al. (Cell. 1996) firstly used a novel expression cloning technique that involves intracellular trapping and detected a ligand for TEK in COS cells. They named this ligand Angiopoietin-1.

Maisonpierre PC, et al. (Science, 1997) reported that Angiogenesis is thought to depend on a precise balance of positive and negative regulation. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) is an angiogenic factor that signals through the endothelial cell-specific Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase. The authors found that angiopoietin-2 (Ang2)is a naturally occurring antagonist of angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) that competes for binding to the Tie2 receptor and blocks Ang1-induced Tie2 autophosphorylation during vasculogenesis.

Maisonpierre PC, et al. reported that Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) is an angiogenic factor that signals through the endothelial cell-specific Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase. Like vascular endothelial growth factor, Ang1 is essential for normal vascular development in the mouse. An Ang1 relative, termed angiopoietin-2 (Ang2), was identified by homology screening and shown to be a naturally occurring antagonist for Ang1 and Tie2. Transgenic overexpression of Ang2 disrupts blood vessel formation in the mouse embryo. In adult mice and humans, Ang2 is expressed only at sites of vascular remodeling. Natural antagonists for vertebrate receptor tyrosine kinases are atypical; thus, the discovery of a negative regulator acting on Tie2 emphasizes the need for exquisite regulation of this angiogenic receptor system.