APOA1 binding protein promotes lymphatic cell fate and lymphangiogenesis by relieving caveolae-mediated inhibition of VEGFR3 signaling.

ABSTRACT: The lymphatic system maintains tissue fluid balance, and its dysfunction can result in lymphedema. Although cholesterol is essential for cellular function, its role in lymphatic development has remained unknown. Here, we identify APOA1 binding protein (AIBP) as a key regulator that promotes lymphatic endothelial cell fate specification and lymphangiogenesis. Mechanistically, AIBP reduces plasma membrane cholesterol content, thereby enhancing VEGFR3 signaling by disrupting caveolae-small plasma membrane invaginations formed by the scaffolding protein caveolin-1 (CAV-1)-and relieving CAV-1-mediated inhibition. In zebrafish and mice, AIBP loss impairs VEGFR3 signaling and lymphatic development, defects that can be rescued by CAV-1 deletion or by a VEGFR3 mutant (VEGFR3^AAA) lacking

SUBMITTER: Kim JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12540785 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature