Integration of repulsive guidance cues generates avascular zones that shape mammalian blood vessels.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Positive signals, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, direct endothelial cells (ECs) to specific locations during blood vessel formation. Less is known about repulsive signal contribution to shaping vessels. Recently, "neuronal guidance cues" have been shown to influence EC behavior, particularly in directing sprouting angiogenesis by repelling ECs. However, their role during de novo blood vessel formation remains unexplored.

Objective

To identify signals that guide and pattern the first mammalian blood vessels.

Methods and results

Using genetic mouse models, we show that blood vessels are sculpted through the generation of stereotyped avascular zones by EC-repulsive cues. We demonstrate that Semaphorin3E (Sema3E) is a key factor that shapes the pair

SUBMITTER: Meadows SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3253216 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature