PUBLICATION

HHEX is a transcriptional regulator of the VEGFC/FLT4/PROX1 signaling axis during vascular development

Authors
Gauvrit, S., Villasenor, A., Strilic, B., Kitchen, P., Collins, M.M., Marín-Juez, R., Guenther, S., Maischein, H.M., Fukuda, N., Canham, M.A., Brickman, J.M., Bogue, C.W., Jayaraman, P.S., Stainier, D.Y.R.
ID
ZDB-PUB-180715-2
Date
2018
Source
Nature communications   9: 2704 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Maischein, Hans-Martin, Marín-Juez, Rubén, Stainier, Didier
Keywords
none
Datasets
GEO:GSE111963
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Base Sequence
  • Blood Vessels/cytology
  • Blood Vessels/growth & development
  • Blood Vessels/metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian
  • Endothelial Cells/cytology
  • Endothelial Cells/metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Homeodomain Proteins/genetics*
  • Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lymphangiogenesis/genetics*
  • Lymphatic Vessels/cytology
  • Lymphatic Vessels/metabolism
  • Mice
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic/genetics
  • Repressor Proteins/deficiency
  • Repressor Proteins/genetics*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C/genetics*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C/metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3/genetics*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3/metabolism
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins/deficiency
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
PubMed
30006544 Full text @ Nat. Commun.
Abstract
Formation of the lymphatic system requires the coordinated expression of several key regulators: vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC), its receptor FLT4, and a key transcriptional effector, PROX1. Yet, how expression of these signaling components is regulated remains poorly understood. Here, using a combination of genetic and molecular approaches, we identify the transcription factor hematopoietically expressed homeobox (HHEX) as an upstream regulator of VEGFC, FLT4, and PROX1 during angiogenic sprouting and lymphatic formation in vertebrates. By analyzing zebrafish mutants, we found that hhex is necessary for sprouting angiogenesis from the posterior cardinal vein, a process required for lymphangiogenesis. Furthermore, studies of mammalian HHEX using tissue-specific genetic deletions in mouse and knockdowns in cultured human endothelial cells reveal its highly conserved function during vascular and lymphatic development. Our findings that HHEX is essential for the regulation of the VEGFC/FLT4/PROX1 axis provide insights into the molecular regulation of lymphangiogenesis.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping