Angiogenesis is highly coordinated to expand and remodel blood vessels. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) are potent angiogenic stimuli; however, little is known about how endothelial cells (ECs) receive and respond to cues that promote blood vessel sprouting. Wang et al. discovered that ephrin-B2, a transmembrane ligand for Eph receptor tyrosine kinases, promotes angiogenic EC proliferation, motility and sprouting. Genetic knockdown of ephrin-B2 in both mice and zebrafish reduced angiogenesis and decreased EC number and vessel branching. EC-specific ephrin-B2 overexpression induced vessel sprouting and lengthened vessel protrusions into the extracellular matrix. Ephrin-B2 regulates VEGF receptor internalization and signaling activity that is necessary for EC proliferation and motility.
Wang Y, Nakayama M, Pitulescu ME, Schmidt TS, Bochenek ML, Sakakibara A, Adams S, Davy A, Deutsch U, Lüthi U, et al. (2010). Ephrin-B2 controls VEGF-induced angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Nature May 5 [Epub ahead of print] [doi:10.1038/nature09002].
