Vascular Development

The formation of blood vessels is an essential aspect ofembryogenesis in vertebrates. It is a central feature ofnumerous post–embryonic processes, including tissue and organgrowth and regeneration. It is also part of the pathology oftumour formation and certain inflammatory conditions.

In recent years, comprehension of the molecular genetics ofblood vessel formation has progressed enormously and studies invertebrate model systems, especially the mouse and the zebrafish,have identified a common set of molecules and processes that areconserved throughout vertebrate embryogenesis while, in addition,highlighting aspects that may differ between different animalgroups.

The discovery in the past decade of the crucial role of newblood vessel formation for the development of cancers has generatedgreat interest in angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vesselsfrom pre–existing ones), with its major implications for potentialcancer–control strategies. In addition, there are numeroussituations where therapeutic treatments either require or would beassisted by vasculogenesis (the de novo formation of bloodvessels). In particular, post–stroke therapies could includetreatments that stimulate neovascularization of the affectedtissues.

The development of such treatments, however, requires thoroughlyunderstanding the developmental properties of endothelial cells andthe basic biology of blood vessel formation.

While there are many books on angiogenesis, this unique bookfocuses on exactly this basic biology and explores blood vesselformation in connection with tissue development in a range ofanimal models. It includes detailed discussions of relevant cellbiology, genetics and embryogenesis of blood vessel formation andpresents insights into the cross–talk between developing bloodvessels and other tissues.

With contributions from vascular biologists, cell biologists anddevelopmental biologists, a comprehensive and highlyinterdisciplinary volume is the outcome.

Chair s introduction (Christer Betsholtz).

The control of endothelial cell functions by adherens junctions(Maria Grazia Lampugnani and Elisabetta Dejana).

Discussion.

The role of Egfl 7 in vascular morphogenesis (MaikeSchmidt, Ann De Mazière, Tanya Smyczek, Alane Gray, LeonParker, Ellen Filvaroff, Dorothy French, Suzanne van Dijk, JudithKlumperman and Weilan Ye).

Discussion.

A model of intussusceptive angiogenesis (Max Levin, Andrew J.Ewald, Martin McMahon, Zena Werb and Keith Mostov).

Discussion.

Vascular lumen formation from a cell biological perspective(Tomas Kucera, Jan Eglinger, Boris Strilic and EckhardLammert).

Discussion.

The genetics of vasculogenesis (Christopher J. Drake, Paul A.Fleming and W. Scott Argraves).

Discussion.

Negative regulators of vessel patterning (AnneEichmann).

Discussion.

Lymphangiogenesis in development and disease (Taija Mäkinenand Kari Alitalo).

Discussion.

Blockade of Dll4 inhibits tumour growth by promotingnon–productive angiogenesis (Irene Noguera–Troise, ChristopherDaly, Nicholas J. Papadopoulos, Sandra Coetzee, Pat Boland,Nicholas W. Gale, Hsin Chieh Lin, George D. Yancopoulos and GavinThurston).

Discussion.

HIF in vascular development and tumour angiogenesis (GeorgBreier, Alexander H. Licht, Anne Klotzsche, Ben Wielockx and ZuzanaKirsnerova).

Discussion.

Imaging the developing lymphatic system using the zebrafish(Karina Yaniv, Sumio Isogai, Daniel Castranova, Louis Dye, JiroHitomi and Brant M. Weinstein).

Discussion.

Signalling pathways regulating cardiac neural crest migrationand differentiation (Frances High and Jonathan A. Epstein).

Discussion.

Investigation of the angiogenic programme with tissue–specifi cand inducible genetic approaches in mice (Ralf H. Adams).

Discussion.

Molecular control of vascular smooth muscle cell differentiationand phenotypic plasticity (Gary K. Owens).

Discussion.

Growth factor gradients in vascular patterning (AndreaLundkvist, Sunyoung Lee, Patrik Andersson, Fredrik Wolfhagen, NicoVan Rooijen, Peter Carmeliet, Luisa Iruela–Arispe, ChristerBetsholtz and Holger Gerhardt).

Discussion.

Endothelial cell promotion of early liver and pancreasdevelopment (Deborah A. Freedman, Yasushige Kashima and Kenneth S.Zaret).

Discussion.

Embryonic development and malformation of lymphatic vessels(Jörg Wilting, Kerstin Buttler, Jochen Rössler, SusanneNorgall, Lothar Schweigerer, Herbert A. Weich and MariaPapoutsi).

Discussion.

Role of the neuropilin ligands VEGF164 and SEMA3A in neuronaland vascular patterning in the mouse (Joaquim Miguel Vieira,Quenten Schwarz and Christiana Ruhrberg).

Discussion.

Final discussion.

Tracheal tube development in Drosophila.

Closing remarks.

Index of contributors.

Subject index.