Endothelial Semaphorin 3fb regulates Vegf pathway-mediated angiogenic sprouting

by Charlene Watterston, Rami Halabi, Sarah McFarlane, Sarah J. Childs Vessel growth integrates diverse extrinsic signals with intrinsic signaling cascades to coordinate cell migration and sprouting morphogenesis. The pro-angiogenic effects of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) are carefully controlled during sprouting to generate an efficiently patterned vasc ular network. We identify crosstalk between VEGF signaling and that of the secreted ligand Semaphorin 3fb (Sema3fb), one of two zebrafish paralogs of mammalian Sema3F. Thesema3fb gene is expressed by endothelial cells in actively sprouting vessels. Loss ofsema3fb results in abnormally wide and stunted intersegmental vessel artery sprouts. Although the sprouts initiate at the correct developmental time, they have a reduced migration speed. These sprouts have persistent filopodia and abnormally spaced nuclei suggesting dysregulated control of actin assembly. sema3fb mutants show simultaneously higher expression of pro-angiogenic (VEGF receptor 2 (vegfr2) anddelta-like 4 (dll4)) and anti-angiogenic (solubleVEGF receptor 1 (svegfr1)/soluble Fms Related Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 1 (sflt1)) pathway components. We show increased phospho-ERK staining in migrating angioblasts, consistent with enhanced Vegf activity. Reducing Vegfr2 kinase activity insema3fb mutants rescues angiogenic sprouting. Our data suggest that Sema3fb plays a critical role in promoting endothelial sprouting through modulating the VEGF signaling pathw...
Source: PLoS Genetics - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Source Type: research