Wigle J T, Oliver G
Department of Genetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA.
Cell. 1999 Sep 17;98(6):769-78. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)81511-1.
The lack of specific markers has raised problems in documenting the precise manner by which the lymphatic system develops. Here we report that the homeobox gene Prox1 is expressed in a subpopulation of endothelial cells that by budding and sprouting give rise to the lymphatic system. The initial localization of these cells in the veins and their subsequent budding are both polarized, suggesting that unidentified guidance signals regulate this process. In Prox1 null mice, budding and sprouting is arrested, although vasculogenesis and angiogenesis of the vascular system is unaffected. These findings suggest that Prox1 is a specific and required regulator of the development of the lymphatic system and that the vascular and lymphatic systems develop independently.
缺乏特异性标志物给记录淋巴系统发育的确切方式带来了问题。在此我们报告，同源盒基因Prox1在一部分内皮细胞中表达，这些内皮细胞通过出芽和芽生形成淋巴系统。这些细胞最初在静脉中的定位及其随后的出芽都是极化的，这表明存在尚未确定的引导信号调节这一过程。在Prox1基因敲除小鼠中，出芽和芽生过程受阻，尽管血管系统的血管发生和血管生成未受影响。这些发现表明，Prox1是淋巴系统发育的特异性且必需的调节因子，并且血管系统和淋巴系统是独立发育的。
