title: BMP4 and noggin control embryonic blood vessel formation by antagonistic regulation of VEGFR-2 (Quek1) expression.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology II, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 17, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nimmagadda
authors.forename: Poongodi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geetha Loganathan
authors.forename: Ruijin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scaal
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Bodo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Christ
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D000099176:Noggin Protein