Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Facilitate Tip Cell Fusion Downstream of BMP-Mediated Venous Angiogenesis-Brief Report.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to identify and characterize cell-cell interactions that facilitate endothelial tip cell fusion downstream of BMP (bone morphogenic protein)-mediated venous plexus formation. High resolution and time-lapse imaging of transgenic reporter lines and loss-of-function studies were carried out to study the involvement of mesenchymal stromal cells during venous angiogenesis. BMP-responsive stromal cells facilitate timely and precise fusion of venous tip cells during developmental angiogenesis. Stromal cells are required for anastomosis of venous tip cells in the embryonic caudal hematopoietic tissue.