PUBLICATION

Endothelial cells require functional FLVCR1a during developmental and adult angiogenesis

Authors
Petrillo, S., De Giorgio, F., Bertino, F., Garello, F., Bitonto, V., Longo, D.L., Mercurio, S., Ammirata, G., Allocco, A.L., Fiorito, V., Chiabrando, D., Altruda, F., Terreno, E., Provero, P., Munaron, L., Genova, T., Nóvoa, A., Carlos, A.R., Cardoso, S., Mallo, M., Soares, M.P., Tolosano, E.
ID
ZDB-PUB-230112-5
Date
2023
Source
Angiogenesis   26(3): 365-384 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Angiogenesis, Endothelial cell, FLVCR1, Tumor endothelial cell
MeSH Terms
  • Humans
  • Endothelial Cells*/physiology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics
  • Neoplasms*
  • Zebrafish
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic/genetics
  • Mice
PubMed
36631598 Full text @ Angiogenesis
Abstract
The Feline Leukemia Virus Subgroup C Receptor 1a (FLVCR1a) is a transmembrane heme exporter essential for embryonic vascular development. However, the exact role of FLVCR1a during blood vessel development remains largely undefined. Here, we show that FLVCR1a is highly expressed in angiogenic endothelial cells (ECs) compared to quiescent ECs. Consistently, ECs lacking FLVCR1a give rise to structurally and functionally abnormal vascular networks in multiple models of developmental and pathologic angiogenesis. Firstly, zebrafish embryos without FLVCR1a displayed defective intersegmental vessels formation. Furthermore, endothelial-specific Flvcr1a targeting in mice led to a reduced radial expansion of the retinal vasculature associated to decreased EC proliferation. Moreover, Flvcr1a null retinas showed defective vascular organization and loose attachment of pericytes. Finally, adult neo-angiogenesis is severely affected in murine models of tumor angiogenesis. Tumor blood vessels lacking Flvcr1a were disorganized and dysfunctional. Collectively, our results demonstrate the critical role of FLVCR1a as a regulator of developmental and pathological angiogenesis identifying FLVCR1a as a potential therapeutic target in human diseases characterized by aberrant neovascularization.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping