研究人員在血管的發(fā)育過程中發(fā)現(xiàn)了一種指導血管生成的清晰信息線索,，新成果發(fā)表在5月在線出版的《自然—細胞生物學》,。新發(fā)現(xiàn)可應用于藥物研究，開發(fā)阻止癌細胞生長所需血液供應的新藥,。
在脊椎動物的發(fā)育過程中,，心臟中背主動脈和前靜脈形成了一個確保氧氣抵達器官的環(huán)。原始血管向相反方向的生長促進了這種成熟循環(huán)系統(tǒng)的建立和拓展,。利用斑馬魚作為模式系統(tǒng),， Suk-Won Jin和同事發(fā)現(xiàn)，在發(fā)育階段,，截然不同的信號線索控制著血管的生長方向,。他們注意到，背主動脈的生長方向?qū)谝环N名為VEGF-A的生長因子,，而VEGF-A生長因子對前靜脈血管的生長方向沒有影響,。他們還指出，前靜脈血管對應著一種由BMP分子控制的分化信號向相反方向生長,。
因為癌細胞會生長出自己的血管系統(tǒng)以保證其氧氣供應,，所以，對發(fā)育期血管生長基本機制的闡明將有助于科學家們研制可切斷癌細胞血液供應的新藥,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原文出處：
Nature Cell Biology DOI:10.1038/ncb2232
Distinct signalling pathways regulate sprouting angiogenesis from the dorsal aorta and the axial vein
David M. Wiley; Jun-Dae Kim; Jijun Hao; Charles C. Hong; Victoria L. Bautch; Suk-Won Jin
Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, is critical to most physiological processes and many pathological conditions. During zebrafish development, angiogenesis expands the axial vessels into a complex vascular network that is necessary for efficient oxygen delivery. Although the dorsal aorta and the axial vein are spatially juxtaposed, the initial angiogenic sprouts from these vessels extend in opposite directions, indicating that distinct cues may regulate angiogenesis of the axial vessels. We found that angiogenic sprouts from the dorsal aorta are dependent on vascular endothelial growth factor A (Vegf-A) signalling, and do not respond to bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) signals. In contrast, sprouts from the axial vein are regulated by Bmp signalling independently of Vegf-A signals, indicating that Bmp is a vein-specific angiogenic cue during early vascular development. Our results support a paradigm whereby different signals regulate distinct programmes of sprouting angiogenesis from the axial vein and dorsal aorta, and indicate that signalling heterogeneity contributes to the complexity of vascular networks.
