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Developmental roles of EGFL7: Vasculogenesis and male germ cell differentiation
Author(s) -
Durrans Anna,
Campagnolo Luisa,
Stuhlmann Heidi
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.299.4
Subject(s) - vasculogenesis , biology , embryoid body , embryonic stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , angiogenesis , zebrafish , germ cell , germ line development , germ layer , stem cell , immunology , genetics , adult stem cell , progenitor cell , gene , induced pluripotent stem cell
EGFL7 is expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC), endothelial cells (EC), primordial germ cells (PGC), and recently this lab has shown expression in spermatids and spermatozoa. Our aim was to investigate the role of EGFL7 during vasculogenesis. Egfl7 was knocked‐down in mouse ESCs using lentiviral constructs with siRNA and eGFP sequences. Using the in vitro embryoid body model we found that Egfl7 knock‐down (k/d) was associated with sheet‐like EC structures, consistent with studies of mouse aortic ring, and zebrafish k/d, models. Eight chimeric males derived from k/d ESC clones were crossed with WT females. Unexpectedly, transmission of the k/d construct was not seen in pups, embryos, or blastocysts. Further investigation revealed absence of eGFP+ maturing sperm cells in chimeras, suggesting that k/d of Egfl7 prevents germ cell maturation past the PGC stage. In testicular tissue presence of the Egfl7 k/d construct in ECs was associated with atrophy in 15% of the parenchyma. These results suggest a developmental role for EGFL7 in EC migration and cord‐formation during angiogenesis, and a second role during the differentiation of male germ cells. Funding provided by NIH grant R21 HL082098 to HS.