BMP4 and noggin control embryonic blood vessel formation by antagonistic regulation of VEGFR-2 (Quek1) expression.
Regulation of VEGFR-2 (Quek1) is an important mechanism during blood vessel formation. In the paraxial mesoderm, Quek1 expression is restricted to the lateral portion of the somite and later to sclerotomal cells surrounding the neural tube. By grafting of either intermediate mesoderm or BMP4 beads into the paraxial mesoderm, we show that BMP4 is a positive regulator of VEGFR-2 (Quek1) expression in the quail embryo. Separation of somites from intermediate mesoderm leads to down-regulation of Quek1 expression. The expression of Quek1 in the medial somite half is normally repressed by the notochord and becomes up-regulated and lateromedially expanded after separation of the notochord. Our results show that up-regulation of BMP4 leads to an increase of the number of blood vessels, whereas inhibition of BMP4 by noggin results in a reduction of blood vessels.
Nimmagadda
Suresh
S
Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology II, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 17, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Geetha Loganathan
Poongodi
P
Huang
Ruijin
R
Scaal
Martin
M
Schmidt
Corina
C
Christ
Bodo
B
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology*; D019521:Body Patterning; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003370:Coturnix; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019170:Somites / Q000502:physiology; D019737:Transplants; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099176:Noggin Protein
D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D000099176:Noggin Protein