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Endothelial signaling during development

Nature Medicine volume 9, pages 661–668 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Blood vessels perfuse all tissues in the body and mediate vital metabolic exchange between tissues and blood. Increasing evidence, however, points to a direct role for paracrine signaling between blood vessel cells and surrounding target organ cells, during embryonic development and cell differentiation. Understanding the nature of this signaling and its heterogeneity, both in the embryo and in adult tissues, may not only provide insights into mechanisms for normal developmental cell fate decisions, but could also lead to novel targeted therapeutic approaches for a variety of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer.

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Figure 1: Morphology of mural cells associated with large and small blood vessels.

Debbie Maizels

Figure 2: Capillary wall morphology.

Debbie Maizels

Figure 3: Vessel wall assembly.

Debbie Maizels

Figure 4: Capillary endothelium and neurogenesis.

Debbie Maizels

Figure 5: Endothelial signals during pancreas and liver development.

Debbie Maizels

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Acknowledgements

We thank Y. Dor and R. Lee for critical reading of the manuscript, and E. Lammert for useful discussions. O.C. is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and D.A.M. is an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

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  1. Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Harvard University, 7 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, 02138, Massachusetts, USA

    Ondine Cleaver & Douglas A Melton

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Cleaver, O., Melton, D. Endothelial signaling during development. Nat Med 9, 661–668 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0603-661

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