title: A genetic Xenopus laevis tadpole model to study lymphangiogenesis.
abstract: Lymph vessels control fluid homeostasis, immunity and metastasis. Unraveling the molecular basis of lymphangiogenesis has been hampered by the lack of a small animal model that can be genetically manipulated. Here, we show that Xenopus tadpoles develop lymph vessels from lymphangioblasts or, through transdifferentiation, from venous endothelial cells. Lymphangiography showed that these lymph vessels drain lymph, through the lymph heart, to the venous circulation. Morpholino-mediated knockdown of the lymphangiogenic factor Prox1 caused lymph vessel defects and lymphedema by impairing lymphatic commitment. Knockdown of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) also induced lymph vessel defects and lymphedema, but primarily by affecting migration of lymphatic endothelial cells. Knockdown of VEGF-C also resulted in aberrant blood vessel formation in tadpoles. This tadpole model offers opportunities for the discovery of new regulators of lymphangiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology, Center for Transgene Technology and Gene Therapy, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N, Herestraat 49, KULeuven, Leuven, B-3000.
authors.forename: Annelii
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ny
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neven
authors.forename: Ricky T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Sunit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maity
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plaisance
authors.forename: Diether
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lambrechts
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Héligon
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terclavers
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciesiolka
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kälin
authors.forename: Wing Yan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Senn
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wyns
authors.forename: Florea
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lupu
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brändli
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vleminckx
authors.forename: Désiré
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Collen
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dewerchin
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: Lieve
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moons
authors.forename: Rakesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carmeliet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein