The notch ligands Dll4 and Jagged1 have opposing effects on angiogenesis

Cell. 2009 Jun 12;137(6):1124-35. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.03.025.

Abstract

The Notch pathway is a highly conserved signaling system that controls a diversity of growth, differentiation, and patterning processes. In growing blood vessels, sprouting of endothelial tip cells is inhibited by Notch signaling, which is activated by binding of the Notch receptor to its ligand Delta-like 4 (Dll4). Here, we show that the Notch ligand Jagged1 is a potent proangiogenic regulator in mice that antagonizes Dll4-Notch signaling in cells expressing Fringe family glycosyltransferases. Upon glycosylation of Notch, Dll4-Notch signaling is enhanced, whereas Jagged1 has weak signaling capacity and competes with Dll4. Our findings establish that the equilibrium between two Notch ligands with distinct spatial expression patterns and opposing functional roles regulates angiogenesis, a mechanism that might also apply to other Notch-controlled biological processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Blood Vessels / cytology
  • Blood Vessels / embryology*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Female
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Jagged-1 Protein
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic*
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism
  • Retina / embryology
  • Serrate-Jagged Proteins

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • DLL4 protein, mouse
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Jag1 protein, mouse
  • Jagged-1 Protein
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Serrate-Jagged Proteins