Platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta is critical for zebrafish intersegmental vessel formation.
BACKGROUND
Platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRbeta) is a tyrosine kinase receptor known to affect vascular development. The zebrafish is an excellent model to study specific regulators of vascular development, yet the role of PDGF signaling has not been determined in early zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, vascular mural cells, in which PDGFRbeta functions cell autonomously in other systems, have not been identified in zebrafish embryos younger than 72 hours post fertilization.


RESULTS
In order to investigate the role of PDGFRbeta in zebrafish vascular development, we cloned the highly conserved zebrafish homolog of PDGFRbeta. We found that pdgfrbeta is expressed in the hypochord, a developmental structure that is immediately dorsal to the dorsal aorta and potentially regulates blood vessel development in the zebrafish. Using a PDGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, a morpholino oligonucleotide specific to PDGFRbeta, and a dominant negative PDGFRbeta transgenic line, we found that PDGFRbeta is necessary for angiogenesis of the intersegmental vessels.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data provide the first evidence that PDGFRbeta signaling is required for zebrafish angiogenesis. We propose a novel mechanism for zebrafish PDGFRbeta signaling that regulates vascular angiogenesis in the absence of mural cells.
Wiens
Katie M
KM
Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California and The Saban Research Institute of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
Lee
Hyuna L
HL
Shimada
Hiroyuki
H
Metcalf
Anthony E
AE
Chao
Michael Y
MY
Lien
Ching-Ling
CL
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000196:embryology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology*
D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta