The formation of the vasculature depends on the precise spatial and temporal control of gene expression to define endothelial cell identity and to ensure the correct distribution and structure of the forming vessel network. This review provides an overview of the establishment of the vascular system, accompanied by a detailed discussion of the transcription factors involved in regulating endothelial gene expression during vasculogenesis and early vessel formation in both fish and mammalian systems. We also review the transcriptional pathways lying both upstream and downstream of key vascular transcription factors.
Journal article
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol
07/2011
31
1469 - 1475
Animals, Cell Differentiation, Cell Lineage, Cell Proliferation, Endothelial Cells, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Humans, Neovascularization, Physiologic, Phenotype, Signal Transduction, Transcription Factors