Signal transduction in vasculogenesis and developmental angiogenesis

Abstract

The vasculature is a highly specialized organ that functions in a number of key physiological tasks including the transport of oxygen and nutrients to tissues. Formation of the vascular system is an essential and rate-limiting step in development and occurs primarily through two main mechanisms, vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Both vasculogenesis, the de novo formation of vessels, and angiogenesis, the growth of new vessels from pre-existing vessels by sprouting, are complex processes that are mediated by the precise coordination of multiple cell types to form and remodel the vascular system. A host of signaling molecules and their interaction with specific receptors are central to activating and modulating vessel formation. This review article summarizes the current state of research involving signaling molecules that have been demonstrated to function in the regulation of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, as well as molecules known to play a role in vessel maturation, hypoxia-driven angiogenesis and arterial-venous specification.

Development of the Renal Arterioles

“…The major mechanisms that control vascular development in other systems have been the subject of excellent reviews [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] and in the case of arteriolar development involve an active cross-talk between pericytes and ECs. Pericytes coat endothelial tubes, providing mechanical stability for the mature vessel, but they also partici- pate in the regulation of blood flow.…”

“…For other important regulatory molecules and mechanisms already demonstrated for nonrenal vessels, as well as for the development of the glomerular capillaries, the reader is referred to some excellent reviews. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] In vivo, vascularization of the kidney is synchronized with epithelial nephrogenesis. Nephrogenesis of the definitive kidney results from the reciprocal inductive interaction between the primitive ureteric bud and the metanephric mesenchyme ( Figure 1).…”

Exosomes secreted by mesenchymal stem cells promote endothelial cell angiogenesis by transferring miR-125a

“…Each of the steps involves a complex interaction between endothelial cells and their corresponding extracellular environment (Patel-Hett and D'Amore, 2011). Several types of cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have been identified as creating specific microenvironments to control blood vessel density and function (Bronckaers et al, 2014;Watt et al, 2013).…”

The Obestatin/GPR39 System Is Up-regulated by Muscle Injury and Functions as an Autocrine Regenerative System

“…Furthermore, VEGFR2 was shown to be up-regulated during myogenic differentiation (57). In addition to its myogenic action, it is important to note its known angiogenic role (58). This latter effect is important in attracting distant vessels to the myoblast differentiation sites.…”