Ets1 functions partially redundantly with Etv2 to promote embryonic vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in zebrafish.

Ets1 functions partially redundantly with Etv2 to promote embryonic vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in zebrafish.
Dev Biol. 2020 Jul 03;:
Authors: Chetty SC, Sumanas S
Abstract
ETS transcription factors play an important role in the specification and differentiation of endothelial cells during vascular development. Despite previous studies, the role of the founding member of the ETS family, Ets1, in vascular development in vivo is only partially understood. Here, we generated a zebrafish ets1 mutant by TALEN genome editing and tested functional redundancy between Ets1 and a related ETS factor Etv2/Etsrp/ER71. While zebrafish ets1-/- mutants have a normal functional vascular system, etv2-/-;ets1-/embryos had more severe angiogenic defects and lower expression levels of kdr and kdrl, the two zebrafish homologs of the mammalian Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 VEGFR2/Flk1, than etv2-/-embryos. Expression of constitutively active Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase1 (MAP2K1) within endothelial cells partially rescued this angiogenic defect. Interestingly, ets1-/- embryos displayed extensive apoptosis within the trunk vasculature despite exhibiting normal vascular patterning. Loss of Ets1 combined with a partial knockdown of Etv2 function resulted in a decrease in endothelial cell numbers in the axial vasculature, which argues for a role of Ets1 in promoting vasculogenesis. We also demonstrate that although both Ets1 and Etv2 ca...

Source: Developmental Biology - July 2, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: Chetty SC, Sumanas S Tags: Dev Biol Source Type: research