Nogo-B receptor is essential for angiogenesis in zebrafish via Akt pathway

Blood. 2010 Dec 9;116(24):5423-33. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-02-271577. Epub 2010 Sep 2.

Abstract

Our previous work has shown that axon guidance gene family Nogo-B and its receptor (NgBR) are essential for chemotaxis and morphogenesis of endothelial cells in vitro. To investigate NogoB-NgBR function in vivo, we cloned the zebrafish ortholog of both genes and studied loss of function in vivo using morpholino antisense technology. Zebrafish ortholog of Nogo-B is expressed in somite while expression of zebrafish NgBR is localized in intersomitic vessel (ISV) and axial dorsal aorta during embryonic development. NgBR or Nogo-B knockdown embryos show defects in ISV sprouting in the zebrafish trunk. Mechanistically, we found that NgBR knockdown not only abolished its ligand Nogo-B-stimulated endothelial cell migration but also reduced the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt and vascular endothelial growth factor-induced chemotaxis and morphogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Further, constitutively activated Akt (myristoylated [myr]Akt) or human NgBR can rescue the NgBR knockdown umbilical vein endothelial cell migration defects in vitro or NgBR morpholino-caused ISV defects in vivo. These data place Akt at the downstream of NgBR in both Nogo-B- and VEGF-coordinated sprouting of ISVs. In summary, this study identifies the in vivo functional role for Nogo-B and its receptor (NgBR) in angiogenesis in zebrafish.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chemotaxis
  • Embryonic Development
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / physiology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Humans
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • RNA, Antisense / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / physiology
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • Nogo receptor, zebrafish
  • RNA, Antisense
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt