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Blood, blebs and lumen expansion

Nature Cell Biology volume 18, pages 366–367 (2016)Cite this article

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A powerful combination of cell labelling, genetic tools and rapid imaging techniques in vivo has now led to a high-resolution description of lumen formation during angiogenesis in zebrafish. The study reveals a haemodynamic-force-driven and myosin-II-dependent cellular mechanism (termed inverse membrane blebbing) as the basis for lumen expansion in unicellular and multicellular angiogenic sprouts.

The vascular system plays an important part in vertebrate tissue development and function. As a result, structural abnormalities in vessels can have severe pathological consequences1,2. The central physiological role of the vascular system is the transport of nutrients, metabolic waste, immune cells and blood cells carrying oxygen3. In the context of disease, cancer cells can specifically interact with and influence the growth of the vascular network, thereby satisfying the metabolic needs of the growing tumour mass1. In addition, metastatic cells use the network of blood and lymph vessels for effective dissemination throughout the body4. To perform physiological functions and exert its influence on disease processes, the vascular system relies on the structure of blood vessels, specifically on their ability to form hollow lumenized tubes5,6. Although the mechanisms controlling differentiation, growth and positioning of different types of vessels are relatively well known7, the precise cellular events underlying lumen formation during the expansion of the vascular network are still debated and not as thoroughly understood.

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Figure 1: Haemodynamic forces and inverse membrane blebbing promote lumen formation in angiogenic sprouts.

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  1. Michal Reichman-Fried and Erez Raz are at the University of Münster, Institute of Cell Biology, ZMBE, Von-Esmarch-Straβe 56, D-48149 Münster, Germany,

    Michal Reichman-Fried & Erez Raz

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  1. Michal Reichman-Fried
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  2. Erez Raz
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Correspondence to Erez Raz.

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Reichman-Fried, M., Raz, E. Blood, blebs and lumen expansion. Nat Cell Biol 18, 366–367 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb3334

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