Cell signaling directing the formation and function of hemogenic endothelium during murine embryogenesis

Blood. 2008 Oct 15;112(8):3194-204. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-02-139055. Epub 2008 Aug 6.

Abstract

During developmental hematopoiesis, multilineage hematopoietic progenitors are thought to derive from a subset of vascular endothelium. Herein, we define the phenotype of such hemogenic endothelial cells and demonstrate, on a clonal level, that they exhibit multilineage hematopoietic potential. Furthermore, we have begun to define the molecular signals that regulate their development. We found that the formation of yolk sac hemogenic endothelium and its hematopoietic potential were significantly impaired in the absence of retinoic acid (RA) signaling, and could be restored in RA-deficient (Raldh2(-/-)) embryos by provision of exogenous RA in utero. Thus, we identify a novel, critical role for RA signaling in the development of hemogenic endothelium that contributes to definitive hematopoiesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • Animals
  • Cell Communication*
  • Cell Lineage
  • Endothelium / cytology*
  • Endothelium / embryology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Hematopoiesis
  • Heterozygote
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Models, Biological
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Time Factors
  • Tretinoin / metabolism

Substances

  • Tretinoin
  • Aldehyde Oxidoreductases
  • RALDH2 protein, mouse