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Meng Y, Lv T, Zhang J, Shen W, Li L, Li Y, Liu X, Lei X, Lin X, Xu H, Meng A, Jia S. Temporospatial inhibition of Erk signaling is required for lymphatic valve formation. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:342. [PMID: 37691058 PMCID: PMC10493226 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01571-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Intraluminal lymphatic valves (LVs) and lymphovenous valves (LVVs) are critical to ensure the unidirectional flow of lymphatic fluid. Morphological abnormalities in these valves always cause lymph or blood reflux, and result in lymphedema. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of valve development remains poorly understood. We here report the implication of Efnb2-Ephb4-Rasa1 regulated Erk signaling axis in lymphatic valve development with identification of two new valve structures. Dynamic monitoring of phospho-Erk activity indicated that Erk signaling is spatiotemporally inhibited in some lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) during the valve cell specification. Inhibition of Erk signaling via simultaneous depletion of zygotic erk1 and erk2 or treatment with MEK inhibitor selumetinib causes lymphatic vessel hypoplasia and lymphatic valve hyperplasia, suggesting opposite roles of Erk signaling during these two processes. ephb4b mutants, efnb2a;efnb2b or rasa1a;rasa1b double mutants all have defective LVs and LVVs and exhibit blood reflux into lymphatic vessels with an edema phenotype. Importantly, the valve defects in ephb4b or rasa1a;rasa1b mutants are mitigated with high-level gata2 expression in the presence of MEK inhibitors. Therefore, Efnb2-Ephb4 signaling acts to suppress Erk activation in valve-forming cells to promote valve specification upstream of Rasa1. Not only do our findings reveal a molecular mechanism of lymphatic valve formation, but also provide a basis for the treatment of lymphatic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Tong Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510320, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Weimin Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Lifang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yaqi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xing Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xuguang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Hanfang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Anming Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510320, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Shunji Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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Ujiie N, Kume T. Mechanical forces in lymphatic vessel development: Focus on transcriptional regulation. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1066460. [PMID: 36439271 PMCID: PMC9685408 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1066460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The lymphatic system is crucial for the maintenance of interstitial fluid and protein homeostasis. It has important roles in collecting excess plasma and interstitial fluid leaked from blood vessels, lipid absorption and transportation in the digestive system, and immune surveillance and response. The development of lymphatic vessels begins during fetal life as lymphatic endothelial progenitor cells first differentiate into lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) by expressing the master lymphatic vascular regulator, prospero-related homeobox 1 (PROX1). The lymphatic vasculature forms a hierarchical network that consists of blind-ended and unidirectional vessels. Although much progress has been made in the elucidation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of the lymphatic vascular system, the causes of lymphatic vessel abnormalities and disease are poorly understood and complicated; specifically, the mechanistic basis for transcriptional dysregulation in lymphatic vessel development remains largely unclear. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of lymphatic vascular development, including LEC differentiation, lymphangiogenesis, and valve formation, and the significance of mechanical forces in lymphatic vessels, with a focus on transcriptional regulation. We also summarize the current knowledge on epigenetic mechanisms of lymphatic gene expression.
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