Dll4-Notch signaling determines the formation of native arterial collateral networks and arterial function in mouse ischemia models
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Arteriogenesis requires growth of pre-existing arteriolar collateral networks and determines clinical outcome in arterial occlusive diseases. Factors responsible for the development of arteriolar collateral networks are poorly understood. The Notch ligand Delta-like 4 (Dll4) promotes arterial differentiation and restricts vessel branching. We hypothesized that Dll4 may act as a genetic determinant of collateral arterial networks and functional recovery in stroke and hind limb ischemia models in mice. Genetic loss- and gain-of-function approaches in mice showed that Dll4-Notch signaling restricts pial collateral artery formation by modulating arterial branching morphogenesis during embryogenesis. Adult Dll4(+/-) mice showed increased pial collateral numbers, but stroke volume upon middle cerebral artery occlusion was not reduced compared with wild-type littermates. Likewise, Dll4(+/-) mice showed reduced blood flow conductance after femoral artery occlusion, and, despite markedly increased angiogenesis, tissue ischemia was more severe. In peripheral arteries, loss of Dll4 adversely affected excitation-contraction coupling in arterial smooth muscle in response to vasopressor agents and arterial vessel wall adaption in response to increases in blood flow, collectively contributing to reduced flow reserve. We conclude that Dll4-Notch signaling modulates native collateral formation by acting on vascular branching morphogenesis during embryogenesis. Dll4 furthermore affects tissue perfusion by acting on arterial function and structure. Loss of Dll4 stimulates collateral formation and angiogenesis, but in the context of ischemic diseases such beneficial effects are overruled by adverse functional changes, demonstrating that ischemic recovery is not solely determined by collateral number but rather by vessel functionality.
Source: Development
DOI: 10.1242/dev.092304
Authors: Brunella Cristofaro, Yu Shi, Marcella Faria, Steven Suchting, Aurelie S. Leroyer, Alexandre Trindade, Antonio Duarte, Ann C. Zovein, M. Luisa Iruela-Arispe, Lina R. Nih, Nathalie Kubis, Daniel Henrion, Laurent Loufrani, Mihail Todiras, Johanna Schleifenbaum, Maik Gollasch, Zhen W. Zhuang, Michael Simons, Anne Eichmann, Ferdinand le Noble
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Inserm, Collège de France, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Biologie, Max Delbrück Center, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, University of California, Los Angeles, Sorbonne Université, Carcinose Angiogenèse et Recherche Translationnelle, Université d'Angers, Yale University, Center for Stroke Research Berlin
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2120744019