Differential expression of neuropilin-1 and neuropilin-2 in arteries and veins.
Neuropilin-1 (np1) and neuropilin-2 (np2) are receptors for class-3 semaphorins and for several isoforms of VEGF. We have cloned and characterized two chick isoforms of np2 cDNA. Expression patterns of np1, np2, and ephrin-B2 were compared in the developing vascular system of 24-72 h old chick embryos. We show for the first time that np2 is expressed in blood vessels in vivo from the earliest stages of their formation. In contrast to ephrin-B2, both np1 and np2 are expressed in blood islands of 24 h old chick embryos. At 48-72 h, np1 expression is localized preferentially in arteries with an expression pattern that resembles that of ephrin-B2. In contrast, np2 is expressed preferentially in veins. Thus, neuropilins may play a role in determining the arterial or venous identity of blood vessels.
Herzog
Y
Y
Department of Biology, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel.
Kalcheim
C
C
Kahane
N
N
Reshef
R
R
Neufeld
G
G
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000196:embryology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D036388:Ephrin-B2; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D039942:Neuropilin-1; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D019170:Somites
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D036388:Ephrin-B2; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C108639:SEMA3A protein, human; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D039942:Neuropilin-1