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Li J, Liu MJ, Du WJ, Peng XL, Deng H, Zi HX, Shang HB, Du JL. Neural-activity-regulated and glia-mediated control of brain lymphatic development. Cell 2025:S0092-8674(25)00410-6. [PMID: 40311620 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2024] [Revised: 01/28/2025] [Accepted: 04/03/2025] [Indexed: 05/03/2025]
Abstract
The nervous system regulates peripheral immune responses under physiological and pathological conditions, but the brain's impact on immune system development remains unknown. Meningeal mural lymphatic endothelial cells (muLECs), embedded in the leptomeninges, form an immune niche surrounding the brain that contributes to brain immunosurveillance. Here, we report that the brain controls the development of muLECs via a specialized glial subpopulation, slc6a11b+ radial astrocytes (RAs), a process modulated by neural activity in zebrafish. slc6a11b+ RAs, with processes extending to the meninges, govern muLEC formation by expressing vascular endothelial growth factor C (vegfc). Moreover, neural activity regulates muLEC development, and this regulation requires Vegfc in slc6a11b+ RAs. Intriguingly, slc6a11b+ RAs cooperate with calcium-binding EGF domain 1 (ccbe1)+ fibroblasts to restrict muLEC growth on the brain surface via controlling mature Vegfc distribution. Thus, our study uncovers a glia-mediated and neural-activity-regulated control of brain lymphatic development and highlights the importance of inter-tissue cellular cooperation in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Ming-Jian Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Wen-Jie Du
- Department of Anesthesiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Xiao-Lan Peng
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Hao Deng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hua-Xing Zi
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Han-Bing Shang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Emergency Medicine Center, Shanghai Institute of Aviation Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
| | - Jiu-Lin Du
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China.
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2
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Veloso A, Bleuart A, Conrard L, Orban T, Bruyr J, Cabochette P, Germano RFV, Schevenels G, Bernard A, Zindy E, Demeyer S, Vanhollebeke B, Dequiedt F, Martin M. The cytoskeleton adaptor protein Sorbs1 controls the development of lymphatic and venous vessels in zebrafish. BMC Biol 2024; 22:51. [PMID: 38414014 PMCID: PMC10900589 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01850-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphangiogenesis, the formation of lymphatic vessels, is tightly linked to the development of the venous vasculature, both at the cellular and molecular levels. Here, we identify a novel role for Sorbs1, the founding member of the SoHo family of cytoskeleton adaptor proteins, in vascular and lymphatic development in the zebrafish. RESULTS We show that Sorbs1 is required for secondary sprouting and emergence of several vascular structures specifically derived from the axial vein. Most notably, formation of the precursor parachordal lymphatic structures is affected in sorbs1 mutant embryos, severely impacting the establishment of the trunk lymphatic vessel network. Interestingly, we show that Sorbs1 interacts with the BMP pathway and could function outside of Vegfc signaling. Mechanistically, Sorbs1 controls FAK/Src signaling and subsequently impacts on the cytoskeleton processes regulated by Rac1 and RhoA GTPases. Inactivation of Sorbs1 altered cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) contacts rearrangement and cytoskeleton dynamics, leading to specific defects in endothelial cell migratory and adhesive properties. CONCLUSIONS Overall, using in vitro and in vivo assays, we identify Sorbs1 as an important regulator of venous and lymphatic angiogenesis independently of the Vegfc signaling axis. These results provide a better understanding of the complexity found within context-specific vascular and lymphatic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Veloso
- Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA-R), University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
- Laboratory of Gene Expression and Cancer, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
- Laboratory for the Molecular Biology of Leukemia, Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anouk Bleuart
- Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA-R), University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
- Laboratory of Gene Expression and Cancer, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
| | - Louise Conrard
- Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Tanguy Orban
- Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA-R), University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
- Laboratory of Gene Expression and Cancer, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Bruyr
- Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA-R), University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
- Laboratory of Gene Expression and Cancer, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
| | - Pauline Cabochette
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Neurovascular Signaling, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041, Gosselies, Belgium
- Present Address: Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, B-6041, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Raoul F V Germano
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Neurovascular Signaling, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Giel Schevenels
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Neurovascular Signaling, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Alice Bernard
- Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA-R), University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
- Laboratory for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, GIGA-R, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
| | - Egor Zindy
- Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Sofie Demeyer
- Laboratory for the Molecular Biology of Leukemia, Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Benoit Vanhollebeke
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Neurovascular Signaling, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Franck Dequiedt
- Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA-R), University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
- Laboratory of Gene Expression and Cancer, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
| | - Maud Martin
- Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA-R), University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Gene Expression and Cancer, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium.
- Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041, Gosselies, Belgium.
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Neurovascular Signaling, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041, Gosselies, Belgium.
- WEL Research Institute (WELBIO Department), Avenue Pasteur, 6, 1300, Wavre, Belgium.
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3
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Green LA, O'Dea MR, Hoover CA, DeSantis DF, Smith CJ. The embryonic zebrafish brain is seeded by a lymphatic-dependent population of mrc1 + microglia precursors. Nat Neurosci 2022; 25:849-864. [PMID: 35710983 PMCID: PMC10680068 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01091-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Microglia are the resident macrophages of the CNS that serve critical roles in brain construction. Although human brains contain microglia by 4 weeks gestation, an understanding of the earliest microglia that seed the brain during its development remains unresolved. Using time-lapse imaging in zebrafish, we discovered a mrc1a+ microglia precursor population that seeds the brain before traditionally described microglia. These early microglia precursors are dependent on lymphatic vasculature that surrounds the brain and are independent of pu1+ yolk sac-derived microglia. Single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets reveal Mrc1+ microglia in the embryonic brains of mice and humans. We then show in zebrafish that these early mrc1a+ microglia precursors preferentially expand during pathophysiological states in development. Taken together, our results identify a critical role of lymphatics in the microglia precursors that seed the early embryonic brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Green
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
- The Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Michael R O'Dea
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Camden A Hoover
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
- The Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Dana F DeSantis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
- The Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Cody J Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
- The Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
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4
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Bekisz S, Baudin L, Buntinx F, Noël A, Geris L. In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Models of Lymphangiogenesis in Solid Malignancies. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1525. [PMID: 35326676 PMCID: PMC8946816 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphangiogenesis (LA) is the formation of new lymphatic vessels by lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) sprouting from pre-existing lymphatic vessels. It is increasingly recognized as being involved in many diseases, such as in cancer and secondary lymphedema, which most often results from cancer treatments. For some cancers, excessive LA is associated with cancer progression and metastatic dissemination to the lymph nodes (LNs) through lymphatic vessels. The study of LA through in vitro, in vivo, and, more recently, in silico models is of paramount importance in providing novel insights and identifying the key molecular actors in the biological dysregulation of this process under pathological conditions. In this review, the different biological (in vitro and in vivo) models of LA, especially in a cancer context, are explained and discussed, highlighting their principal modeled features as well as their advantages and drawbacks. Imaging techniques of the lymphatics, complementary or even essential to in vivo models, are also clarified and allow the establishment of the link with computational approaches. In silico models are introduced, theoretically described, and illustrated with examples specific to the lymphatic system and the LA. Together, these models constitute a toolbox allowing the LA research to be brought to the next level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Bekisz
- Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA In silico Medicine, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
| | - Louis Baudin
- Laboratory of Biology of Tumor and Development, GIGA Cancer, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (L.B.); (F.B.); (A.N.)
| | - Florence Buntinx
- Laboratory of Biology of Tumor and Development, GIGA Cancer, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (L.B.); (F.B.); (A.N.)
| | - Agnès Noël
- Laboratory of Biology of Tumor and Development, GIGA Cancer, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (L.B.); (F.B.); (A.N.)
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA In silico Medicine, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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5
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Hashiguchi S, Tanaka T, Mano R, Kondo S, Kodama S. CCN2-induced lymphangiogenesis is mediated by the integrin αvβ5-ERK pathway and regulated by DUSP6. Sci Rep 2022; 12:926. [PMID: 35042954 PMCID: PMC8766563 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-04988-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphangiogenesis is essential for the development of the lymphatic system and is important for physiological processes such as homeostasis, metabolism and immunity. Cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2, also known as CTGF), is a modular and matricellular protein and a well-known angiogenic factor in physiological and pathological angiogenesis. However, its roles in lymphangiogenesis and intracellular signaling in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of CCN2 on lymphangiogenesis. In in vivo Matrigel plug assays, exogenous CCN2 increased the number of Podoplanin-positive vessels. Subsequently, we found that CCN2 induced phosphorylation of ERK in primary cultured LECs, which was almost completely inhibited by the blockade of integrin αvβ5 and partially decreased by the blockade of integrin αvβ3. CCN2 promoted direct binding of ERK to dual-specific phosphatase 6 (DUSP6), which regulated the activation of excess ERK by dephosphorylating ERK. In vitro, CCN2 promoted tube formation in LECs, while suppression of Dusp6 further increased tube formation. In vivo, immunohistochemistry also detected ERK phosphorylation and DUSP6 expression in Podoplanin-positive cells on CCN2-supplemented Matrigel. These results indicated that CCN2 promotes lymphangiogenesis by enhancing integrin αvβ5-mediated phosphorylation of ERK and demonstrated that DUSP6 is a negative regulator of excessive lymphangiogenesis by CCN2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiho Hashiguchi
- Department of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of Regenerative Medicine and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tomoko Tanaka
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Mano
- Department of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of Regenerative Medicine and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Seiji Kondo
- Department of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shohta Kodama
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
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6
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de Oliveira MB, Meier K, Jung S, Bartels-Klein E, Coxam B, Geudens I, Szymborska A, Skoczylas R, Fechner I, Koltowska K, Gerhardt H. Vasohibin 1 selectively regulates secondary sprouting and lymphangiogenesis in the zebrafish trunk. Development 2021; 148:dev194993. [PMID: 33547133 PMCID: PMC7904002 DOI: 10.1242/dev.194993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that Vasohibin 1 (Vash1) is stimulated by VEGFs in endothelial cells and that its overexpression interferes with angiogenesis in vivo Recently, Vash1 was found to mediate tubulin detyrosination, a post-translational modification that is implicated in many cell functions, such as cell division. Here, we used the zebrafish embryo to investigate the cellular and subcellular mechanisms of Vash1 on endothelial microtubules during formation of the trunk vasculature. We show that microtubules within venous-derived secondary sprouts are strongly and selectively detyrosinated in comparison with other endothelial cells, and that this difference is lost upon vash1 knockdown. Vash1 depletion in zebrafish specifically affected secondary sprouting from the posterior cardinal vein, increasing endothelial cell divisions and cell number in the sprouts. We show that altering secondary sprout numbers and structure upon Vash1 depletion leads to defective lymphatic vessel formation and ectopic lymphatic progenitor specification in the zebrafish trunk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Bastos de Oliveira
- Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, Berlin 13125, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site, Potsdamer Str. 58, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Katja Meier
- Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, Berlin 13125, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site, Potsdamer Str. 58, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Jung
- Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, Berlin 13125, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site, Potsdamer Str. 58, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Eireen Bartels-Klein
- Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, Berlin 13125, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site, Potsdamer Str. 58, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Baptiste Coxam
- Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, Berlin 13125, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site, Potsdamer Str. 58, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilse Geudens
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
- Vascular Patterning Laboratory, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven B-3000, Belgium
| | - Anna Szymborska
- Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, Berlin 13125, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site, Potsdamer Str. 58, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Renae Skoczylas
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ines Fechner
- Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, Berlin 13125, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site, Potsdamer Str. 58, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Katarzyna Koltowska
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Holger Gerhardt
- Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, Berlin 13125, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site, Potsdamer Str. 58, 10785 Berlin, Germany
- Vascular Patterning Laboratory, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven B-3000, Belgium
- Vascular Patterning Laboratory, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven B-3000, Belgium
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Straβe 2, 10178 Berlin, Germany
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Vegfc/d-dependent regulation of the lymphatic vasculature during cardiac regeneration is influenced by injury context. NPJ Regen Med 2019; 4:18. [PMID: 31452940 PMCID: PMC6706389 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-019-0079-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The lymphatic vasculature mediates essential physiological functions including fluid homeostasis, lipid and hormone transport, and immune cell trafficking. Recent studies have suggested that promoting lymphangiogenesis enhances cardiac repair following injury, but it is unknown whether lymphangiogenesis is required for cardiac regeneration. Here, we describe the anatomical distribution, regulation, and function of the cardiac lymphatic network in a highly regenerative zebrafish model system using transgenic reporter lines and loss-of-function approaches. We show that zebrafish lacking functional vegfc and vegfd signaling are devoid of a cardiac lymphatic network and display cardiac hypertrophy in the absence of injury, suggesting a role for these vessels in cardiac tissue homeostasis. Using two different cardiac injury models, we report a robust lymphangiogenic response following cryoinjury, but not following apical resection injury. Although the majority of mutants lacking functional vegfc and vegfd signaling were able to mount a full regenerative response even in the complete absence of a cardiac lymphatic vasculature, cardiac regeneration was severely impaired in a subset of mutants, which was associated with heightened pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling. These findings reveal a context-dependent requirement for the lymphatic vasculature during cardiac growth and regeneration.
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