Cited by 240Congenital heart defects researchDevelopmental Biology and Gene RegulationCongenital Heart Disease Studies

A novel role for VEGF in endocardial cushion formation and its potential contribution to congenital heart defects

Dor, Yuval, Camenisch, Todd D., Itin, Ahuva, Fishman, Glenn I., McDonald, John A., Carmeliet, Peter, Keshet, Eli·2001·Development

Abstract

Normal cardiovascular development is exquisitely dependent on the correct dosage of the angiogenic growth factor and vascular morphogen vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, cardiac expression of VEGF is also robustly augmented during hypoxic insults, potentially mediating the well-established teratogenic effects of hypoxia on heart development. We report that during normal heart morphogenesis VEGF is specifically upregulated in the atrioventricular (AV) field of the heart tube soon after the onset of endocardial cushion formation (i.e. the endocardium-derived structures that build the heart septa and valves). To model hypoxia-dependent induction of VEGF in vivo, we conditionally induced VEGF expression in the myocardium using a tetracycline-regulated transgenic system. Premature induction of myocardial VEGF in E9.5 embryos to levels comparable with those induced by hypoxia prevented formation of endocardial cushions. When added to explanted embryonic AV tissue, VEGF fully inhibited endocardial-to-mesenchymal transformation. Transformation was also abrogated in AV explants subjected to experimental hypoxia but fully restored in the presence of an inhibitory soluble VEGF receptor 1 chimeric protein. Together, these results suggest a novel developmental role for VEGF as a negative regulator of endocardial-to-mesenchymal transformation that underlies the formation of endocardial cushions. Moreover, ischemia-induced VEGF may be the molecular link between hypoxia and congenital defects in heart septation.

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Crossref · 10.1242/dev.128.9.1531

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  • NicheNet analysis identifies activation of signalling pathways classically associated with EndMT initiation and mesenchymal development, including TGFβ superfamily, WNT, VEGF, and FGF signalling, signalling toward endocardial cells at E10.5.

    “In our analysis, we see the activation of signalling pathways classically associated with EndMT initiation and mesenchymal development, including TGFβ superfamily9,10,67, WNT18, VEGF68,69, and FGF70 signalling.”

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Authors
Dor, Y., Camenisch, T. D., Itin, A., Fishman, G. I., McDonald, J. A., Carmeliet, P., & Keshet, E.
Affiliations
  • Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL)
  • Mayo Clinic (US)
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
  • Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (BE)
Corresponding author
Keshet, Eli
Venue
Development
Published
2001-05-01
Volume
128
Issue
9
Pages
1531-1538
ISSN
  • 0950-1991 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-9129
OpenAlex
W2158573773
Cited by
240
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 8
FWCI
4.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Congenital heart defects research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Congenital Heart Disease Studies
Keywords
vascular endothelial growth factor, congenital heart disease, cardiac morphogenesis, hypoxia, myocardial ischemia, heart septation, VEGF receptor 1
MeSH terms
Animals, Hypoxia, Endocardium, Heart Defects, Congenital, Heart Septum, Heart Valves, Lymphokines, Mesoderm, Mice, Transgenic, Morphogenesis, Tissue Distribution, Endothelial Growth Factors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, Mice, In Vitro Techniques

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