Vascular endothelial growth factor C is required for sprouting of the first lymphatic vessels from embryonic veins - PubMed

Affiliations

• PMID: 14634646
• DOI: 10.1038/ni1013

Vascular endothelial growth factor C is required for sprouting of the first lymphatic vessels from embryonic veins

Marika J Karkkainen et al. Nat Immunol. 2004 Jan.

Abstract

Lymphatic vessels are essential for immune surveillance, tissue fluid homeostasis and fat absorption. Defects in lymphatic vessel formation or function cause lymphedema. Here we show that the vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) is required for the initial steps in lymphatic development. In Vegfc-/- mice, endothelial cells commit to the lymphatic lineage but do not sprout to form lymph vessels. Sprouting was rescued by VEGF-C and VEGF-D but not by VEGF, indicating VEGF receptor 3 specificity. The lack of lymphatic vessels resulted in prenatal death due to fluid accumulation in tissues, and Vegfc+/- mice developed cutaneous lymphatic hypoplasia and lymphedema. Our results indicate that VEGF-C is the paracrine factor essential for lymphangiogenesis, and show that both Vegfc alleles are required for normal lymphatic development.

Comment in

• Genes tell lymphatics to sprout or not.

  Folkman J, Kaipainen A. Folkman J, et al. Nat Immunol. 2004 Jan;5(1):11-2. doi: 10.1038/ni0104-11. Nat Immunol. 2004. PMID: 14699399 No abstract available.

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