How Dll4 Affects Blood Vessel Development
Author Information
Author(s): Benedito Rui, Trindade Alexandre, Hirashima Masanori, Henrique Domingos, da Costa Luis Lopes, Rossant Janet, Gill Parkash S, Duarte António
Primary Institution: Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
Hypothesis
Loss of Notch signalling induced by Dll4 causes arterial calibre reduction by increasing endothelial cell response to angiogenic stimuli.
Conclusion
Notch signalling can increase arterial stability and calibre by decreasing the response of arterial endothelial cells to local gradients of pro-angiogenic factors like VEGF.
Supporting Evidence
- Dll4-/- embryos show reduced arterial calibre before blood flow starts.
- Increased endothelial cell proliferation and migration were observed in Dll4-/- embryos.
- Dll4-/- endothelial cells express higher levels of VEGFR-2 and Robo4.
Takeaway
When a specific signal called Dll4 is missing, blood vessels in embryos don't grow properly and can become too small because the cells that make up the blood vessels are too active and move around too much.
Methodology
The study involved analyzing Dll4-/- embryos to assess endothelial cell behavior, proliferation, and migration through various imaging and staining techniques.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in interpreting results due to reliance on specific genetic backgrounds and experimental conditions.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on early embryonic stages and may not fully capture later developmental processes.
Participant Demographics
Embryonic mice, specifically Dll4-/- mutants and their wild-type counterparts.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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