Emerging lymphae for the fountain of life

EMBO J. 2013 Mar 6;32(5):609-11. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2013.13. Epub 2013 Jan 29.

Abstract

The lymphatic system is indispensable for the collection and cycling of tissue-extravasated fluids, macromolecules and immune cells into the bloodstream. Different mechanisms, including sprouting, ballooning and budding of lymphatic endothelial cells from the cardinal vein, have been proposed for lymphatic vessel formation during mammalial embryogenesis. Hägerling et al (2013) now provide a cell-scale model of lymphoangiogenesis by applying selective plane illumination-based ultramicroscopy (Becker et al, 2008) to wholemount-immunostained mouse embryos. They describe VEGFR-3, VEGF-C and CCBE1 as key regulators of lymphatic endothelial cell budding and migration at the early emergence of lymphatics from venous endothelium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology*
  • Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism
  • Embryo, Mammalian / ultrastructure
  • Endothelium, Lymphatic / cytology*
  • Endothelium, Lymphatic / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Lymphatic / ultrastructure
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / ultrastructure
  • Lymphangiogenesis*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / physiology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / physiology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / physiology*
  • Veins / cytology*
  • Veins / metabolism
  • Veins / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Ccbe1 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
  • vascular endothelial growth factor C, mouse
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3