Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 12, 2026
10:57
Using In Vivo and Tissue and Cell Explant Approaches to Study the Morphogenesis and Pathogenesis of the Embryonic and Perinatal Aorta
Published on: September 12, 2017
9.0K
Molecular controls of arterial morphogenesis.
Michael Simons1, Anne Eichmann1
1From the Department of Internal Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine (M.S., A.E.) and Departments of Cell Biology (M.S.) and Molecular Physiology (A.E.), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. michael.simons@yale.edu anne.eichmann@yale.edu.
Circulation Research
|May 9, 2015
Summary
Arteriogenesis, the formation of arteries, is crucial for development and repair. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and novel circuits are key regulators, offering therapeutic targets for promoting artery growth in disease.
Area of Science:
- Vascular biology
- Developmental biology
- Regenerative medicine
Background:
- Arteriogenesis, the formation of functional arteries, is vital for embryonic development and tissue repair in adults.
- While capillary formation (angiogenesis) is well-studied, the mechanisms governing arteriogenesis remain less understood.
- Understanding arteriogenesis is critical for developing therapies for ischemic diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling arteriogenesis.
- To identify key regulators of arterial vessel formation.
- To explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting arteriogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the role of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in arteriogenesis.
- Identified and characterized novel signaling pathways influencing arteriogenesis.
- Explored ligand-independent activation of VEGFR2 signaling.
Main Results:
- Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) plays a pivotal role in controlling arteriogenesis.
- Newly discovered regulatory circuits significantly modulate VEGFR2 activity in arteriogenesis.
- Ligand-independent activation of VEGFR2 signaling promotes arteriogenesis.
Conclusions:
- VEGFR2 is a central regulator of arteriogenesis.
- Novel therapeutic targets for promoting arteriogenesis have been identified.
- Targeting these pathways offers potential for treating diseases characterized by insufficient blood supply.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
4.0K
Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits. Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl...
4.0K
01:16Arteries and Arterioles
8.5K
Arteries, the vasculature responsible for transporting blood from the heart, possess robust walls capable of enduring the elevated pressures exerted by the heartbeat. Arteries near the heart are especially thick-walled and enriched with elastic fibers across their three tunics, classifying them as elastic or conducting arteries. These arteries, usually with a diameter exceeding 10 mm, are characterized by their ability to dilate in response to the blood pumped from the heart's ventricles...
8.5K
01:17Autoregulation of Blood Flow
9.6K
Autoregulation mechanisms are characterized by their inherent capacity for self-regulation without necessitating specific nervous stimulation or endocrine control. These mechanisms facilitate the adjustment of blood flow and, therefore, perfusion specific to each tissue region. This self-regulation encompasses chemical signals and myogenic controls.
Chemical Signaling in Autoregulation
Chemical signaling operates at the precapillary sphincter level, inciting either contraction or relaxation....
Chemical Signaling in Autoregulation
Chemical signaling operates at the precapillary sphincter level, inciting either contraction or relaxation....
9.6K
01:07Development of Blood Vessels
2.0K
The development of the vascular system in a fetus is a complex and intricate process that begins as early as 15 to 16 days post-conception. This process starts outside the embryo, specifically in the mesoderm of the yolk sac, chorion, and connecting stalk. Approximately two days later, the formation of blood vessels occurs within the embryo itself.
The initial formation of this system is facilitated by the small amount of yolk present in the ovum and yolk sac. Blood vessels originate from...
The initial formation of this system is facilitated by the small amount of yolk present in the ovum and yolk sac. Blood vessels originate from...
2.0K
01:10Mechanism of Angiogenesis
7.8K
Blood vessel formation starts early during embryonic development, around day 7. In the extraembryonic yolk sac, mesodermal precursor cells called hemangioblast proliferate and differentiate into angioblast. Angioblasts express vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 or VEGFR2, which binds VEGF-A, a proangiogenic factor, guiding blood vessel formation. VEGF signaling promotes angioblasts to form a blood island in the developing embryo. Angioblasts further differentiate, giving rise to...
7.8K