Divergence of zebrafish and mouse lymphatic cell fate specification pathways
van Impel A, Zhao Z, Hermkens DM, Roukens MG, Fischer JC, Peterson-Maduro J, Duckers H, Ober EA, Ingham PW, Schulte-Merker S (2014)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2014
Journal
Book Volume: 141
Pages Range: 1228-1238
Journal Issue: 6
DOI: 10.1242/dev.105031
Abstract
In mammals, the homeodomain transcription factor Prox1 acts as the central regulator of lymphatic cell fate. Its restricted expression in a subset of cardinal vein cells leads to a switch towards lymphatic specification and hence represents a prerequisite for the initiation of lymphangiogenesis. Murine Prox1-null embryos lack lymphatic structures, and sustained expression of Prox1 is indispensable for the maintenance of lymphatic cell fate even at adult stages, highlighting the unique importance of this gene for the lymphatic lineage. Whether this pre-eminent role of Prox1 within the lymphatic vasculature is conserved in other vertebrate classes has remained unresolved, mainly owing to the lack of availability of loss-of-function mutants. Here, we re-examine the role of Prox1a in zebrafish lymphangiogenesis. First, using a transgenic reporter line, we show that prox1a is initially expressed in different endothelial compartments, becoming restricted to lymphatic endothelial cells only at later stages. Second, using targeted mutagenesis, we show that Prox1a is dispensable for lymphatic specification and subsequent lymphangiogenesis in zebrafish. In line with this result, we found that the functionally related transcription factors Coup-TFII and Sox18 are also dispensable for lymphangiogenesis. Together, these findings suggest that lymphatic commitment in zebrafish and mice is controlled in fundamentally different ways. © 2014. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMC Utrecht)
Netherlands (NL)
Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) / 分子和生物細胞学研究院
Singapore (SG)
Erasmus University Medical Center (MC)
Netherlands (NL)
National Institute for Medical Research
United Kingdom (GB)
Netherlands (NL)
Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) / 分子和生物細胞学研究院
Singapore (SG)
Erasmus University Medical Center (MC)
Netherlands (NL)
National Institute for Medical Research
United Kingdom (GB)
How to cite
APA:
van Impel, A., Zhao, Z., Hermkens, D.M., Roukens, M.G., Fischer, J.C., Peterson-Maduro, J.,... Schulte-Merker, S. (2014). Divergence of zebrafish and mouse lymphatic cell fate specification pathways. Development, 141(6), 1228-1238. https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.105031
MLA:
van Impel, Andreas, et al. "Divergence of zebrafish and mouse lymphatic cell fate specification pathways." Development 141.6 (2014): 1228-1238.
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