Control of arterial branching morphogenesis in embryogenesis: go with the flow

Formation of a properly branched vascular system during embryogenesis is crucial for embryo survival. Here we review the regulation of the morphogenesis of the arterial and venous system during embryogenesis. We show that in addition to deterministic patterning mechanisms and plasticity of endotheli...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Cardiovascular research Vol. 65; no. 3; pp. 619 - 628
Main Authors:	LE NOBLE, F, FLEURY, V, PRIES, A, CONVOL, P, EICHMANN, A, RENEMAN, R. S
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Oxford Oxford University Press 15-02-2005
Subjects:	Animals Arteries - embryology Biological and medical sciences Body Patterning - physiology Cardiology. Vascular system Collateral Circulation - physiology Embryonic Development - physiology Hemodynamics - physiology Humans Medical sciences Veins - embryology Branching Arterial-venous differentiation Developmental biology Endothelial receptors Biology Artery Morphogenesis Arteriogenesis Control Hemodynamics Differentiation Vein Growth factors Growth factor Biological receptor
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Summary:	Formation of a properly branched vascular system during embryogenesis is crucial for embryo survival. Here we review the regulation of the morphogenesis of the arterial and venous system during embryogenesis. We show that in addition to deterministic patterning mechanisms and plasticity of endothelial cells, arterial-venous differentiation and branching morphogenesis involves a prominent role for blood flow. Based on in vivo observations of developing arteries, we identified a novel morphological event crucial for the morphogenesis of the arterial tree, disconnection of small side branches. This disconnection of side branches occurs exactly at the point of bifurcation. The rate of disconnection of side branches depends on flow velocity and branching angle. The balance between disconnection and maintenance of arterial side branches determines the number of side branches connected to a large artery. Based on these observations, we postulate that the number of pre-existing collaterals connected to a large artery is a function of the disconnection process and can be regulated by hemodynamics. We furthermore show that embryonic arteries already adapt their lumen diameter to the amount of flow carried. Taken together, we suggest that hemodynamics plays a pivotal role in shaping the arterial system. We suggest that flow-evoked remodeling processes determine the number of preexisting collaterals during critical periods of embryo-fetal development. Insight into these basic principles of arterial growth and branching during embryogenesis may aid to understanding the observed variability in the capacity to establish a collateral circulation in patients with ischemic diseases and finding new strategies for therapeutic arteriogenesis.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 ObjectType-Review-1
ISSN:	0008-6363 1755-3245
DOI:	10.1016/j.cardiores.2004.09.018