Vascular patterning: coordinated signals keep blood vessels on track.
The vascular system is a complex, largely stereotyped network of interconnecting and branching vessels. How thousands of vessels form at precise locations is a key question regarding vascular morphogenesis. In order to achieve this defined architecture, the embryo integrates a multitude of attractive and repulsive cues to guide and shape the developing vasculature. This review summarizes recent studies investigating the interactions between endothelial cells and signals from surrounding tissues that pattern the initial blood vessel network.
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, 2000 Percival Stern Hall, 6400 Freret Street, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA. Electronic address: smeadows@tulane.edu.
Stryder M
SM
Meadows
Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
Ondine
O
Cleaver
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000196:embryology*; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000196:embryology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009672:Notochord / Q000196:embryology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A