Vascular development for climate control.
Early anatomists noted the close juxtaposition of arteries and veins, which modern physiologists proposed aided temperature regulation. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Kidoya and colleagues (2015) demonstrate that the secreted protein Apelin and hematopoietic-endothelial cell interactions create this arrangement, providing genetic evidence for its function as a heat-exchange mechanism.
Translational Research Center, University of Pennsylvania, Room 11-123, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Building 421, Philadelphia, PA 19104-5159, USA. Electronic address: markkahn@mail.med.upenn.edu.
Mark L
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Kahn
D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D014680:Veins / Q000378:metabolism*
D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled