title: Wiring the Vascular Network with Neural Cues: A CNS Perspective.
abstract: The vascular and the nervous system are responsible for oxygen, nutrient, and information transfer and thereby constitute highly important communication systems in higher organisms. These functional similarities are reflected at the anatomical, cellular, and molecular levels, where common developmental principles and mutual crosstalks have evolved to coordinate their action. This resemblance of the two systems at different levels of complexity has been termed the "neurovascular link." Most of the evidence demonstrating neurovascular interactions derives from studies outside the CNS and from the CNS tissue of the retina. However, little is known about the specific properties of the neurovascular link in the brain. Here, we focus on regulatory effects of molecules involved in the neurovascular link on angiogenesis in the periphery and in the brain and distinguish between general and CNS-specific cues for angiogenesis. Moreover, we discuss the emerging molecular interactions of these angiogenic cues with the VEGF-VEGFR-Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4)-Jagged-Notch pathway.
authors.affiliation: Group of CNS Angiogenesis and Neurovascular Link, and Physician-Scientist Program, Swiss Center for Regenerative Medicine and Division of Surgical Research, and Neuroscience Center Zurich and Division of Neurosurgery, University and University Hospital Zurich, and Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Moussonstrasse 13, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland; Division of Neurosurgery and Laboratory of Molecular Neurooncology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, and Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: waelchli@hifo.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wälchli
authors.affiliation: Group of CNS Angiogenesis and Neurovascular Link, and Physician-Scientist Program, Swiss Center for Regenerative Medicine and Division of Surgical Research, and Neuroscience Center Zurich and Division of Neurosurgery, University and University Hospital Zurich, and Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Moussonstrasse 13, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andrin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wacker
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery and Laboratory of Molecular Neurooncology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Frei
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery and Laboratory of Molecular Neurooncology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Regli
authors.affiliation: Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, and Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.affiliation: Swiss Center for Regenerative Medicine and Division of Surgical Research, University and University Hospital Zurich, Moussonstrasse 13, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hoerstrup
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Vesalius Research Center, Vascular Patterning Lab, Herestraat 49, bus 912, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), Vesalius Research Center, Vascular Patterning Lab, KU Leuven B-3000, Belgium; Vascular Biology Laboratory, London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, London, WC2A 3LY, UK; Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, Berlin 13125, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gerhardt
authors.affiliation: Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 1, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Engelhardt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A