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Epidermal growth factor-like domain 7,  Egfl7 , is a largely endothelial restricted gene which is thought to have a role during the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) along the endothelial lineage. While it has been shown that  Egfl7  knock-down in zebrafish impairs endothelial cord formation, the role of the gene in mammals has been unresolved. Interpretation of mouse knockout studies has been complicated by the fact that deletion of  miR-126 , an intronic microRNA located within  Egfl7 , results in vascular defects. Here we use an siRNA knock-down approach to target specific regions of  Egfl7  without affecting  miR-126  expression.  Egfl7  was knocked down in mouse ESCs and the effect on vascular development was assessed using the  in vitro  embryoid body (EB) model after either 7 or 14 days of differentiation. Knock-down of  Egfl7  resulted in the formation of abnormal sheet-like CD31+ structures that were abundant within EBs after 7 days of differentiation. Only up to 60% of these sheets co-expressed basement membrane and endothelial cell junction markers. Similar CD31+ sheets were also seen as outgrowths from 7 day EBs into collagen gels. A partial remodelling occurred by 14 days of differentiation when fewer CD31+ sheets were seen both within EBs, and as outgrowths from EBs. Formation of these sheets was due, at least in part, to increased proliferation specifically of CD31+ cells. Cell death within EBs was unaffected by  Egfl7  knock-down. In conclusion, our work shows that knock-down of  Egfl7  causes defects in early vascular cord formation, and results in the development of CD31+ sheet-like structures. This suggests that  Egfl7  is vital for the formation of endothelial cell cords, and that the gene has an important role during both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in mammalian cells.

A role for Egfl7 during endothelial organization in the embryoid body model system