RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 VEGFR3 modulates brain microvessel branching in a mouse model of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
JF Life Science Alliance
JO Life Sci. Alliance
FD Life Science Alliance LLC
SP e202101308
DO 10.26508/lsa.202101308
VO 5
IS 12
A1 Cioffi, Sara
A1 Flore, Gemma
A1 Martucciello, Stefania
A1 Bilio, Marchesa
A1 Turturo, Maria Giuseppina
A1 Illingworth, Elizabeth
YR 2022
UL https://www.life-science-alliance.org/content/5/12/e202101308.abstract
AB The loss of a single copy of TBX1 accounts for most of the clinical signs and symptoms of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, a common genetic disorder that is characterized by multiple congenital anomalies and brain-related clinical problems, some of which likely have vascular origins. Tbx1 mutant mice have brain vascular anomalies, thus making them a useful model to gain insights into the human disease. Here, we found that the main morphogenetic function of TBX1 in the mouse brain is to suppress vessel branching morphogenesis through regulation of Vegfr3. We demonstrate that inactivating Vegfr3 in the Tbx1 expression domain on a Tbx1 mutant background enhances brain vessel branching and filopodia formation, whereas increasing Vegfr3 expression in this domain fully rescued these phenotypes. Similar results were obtained using an in vitro model of endothelial tubulogenesis. Overall, the results of this study provide genetic evidence that VEGFR3 is a regulator of early vessel branching and filopodia formation in the mouse brain and is a likely mediator of the brain vascular phenotype caused by Tbx1 loss of function.