Nerve-blood
Vessel Interactions
We recently discovered that arteries are molecularly distinct
from veins from very early stages of angiogenesis. This raises
the question of how and when such distinctions are established
during development. Using "indicator mice" in which
arteries are genetically marked, we discovered that arteries,
but not veins, are aligned with nerves in embryonic skin, and
that nerves are required for arterial differentiation. We are
using molecular genetic approaches to identify the signals that
pass between nerves and blood vessels to coordinate their development
and patterning.
Recent publications
Mukouyama, Y.S., Gerber, H.P., Ferrara, N., Gu, C., and Anderson, D. J. (2005) Peripheral nerve-derived VEGF promotes arterial differentiation via neuropilin 1-mediated positive feedback. Development 132, 941-952.
[Pubmed]
Mukouyama, Y., Shin, D., Britsch, S., Taniguchi, M. and Anderson, D. J. (2002). Sensory nerves determine the pattern of arterial differentiation and blood vessel branching in the skin. Cell 109, 693-705.
[Pubmed]
Wang, H. U., Chen, Z.-F. and Anderson, D. J. (1998). Molecular distinction and angiogenic interaction between embryonic arteries and veins revealed by ephrin-B2 and its receptor EphB4. Cell 93, 741-753.
[Pubmed]
