Endothelial Semaphorin 3fb Regulates Vegf Pathway-Mediated Angiogenic Sprouting

Vessel growth integrates diverse extrinsic signals with intrinsic signaling cascades to coordinate cell migration and sprouting morphogenesis. The pro-angiogenic effects of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) are carefully controlled during sprouting to generate an efficiently patterned vascular network. We identify crosstalk between VEGF signaling and that of the secreted ligand Semaphorin 3fb (Sema3fb), one of two zebrafish paralogs of mammalian Sema3F. The sema3fb gene is expressed by endothelial cells in actively sprouting vessels. Loss of sema3fb results in abnormally wide and stunted intersegmental vessel artery sprouts. Although the sprouts initiate at the correct developmental time, they have a reduced migration speed. These sprouts have persistent filopodia and abnormally spaced nuclei suggesting dysregulated control of actin assembly. sema3fb mutants show simultaneously higher expression of pro-angiogenic (VEGF receptor 2 (vegfr2) and delta-like 4 (dll4)) and anti-angiogenic (soluble VEGF receptor 1 (svegfr1)/ soluble Fms Related Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 1 (sflt1)) pathway components. We show increased phospho-ERK staining in migrating angioblasts, consistent with enhanced Vegf activity. Reducing Vegfr2 kinase activity in sema3fb mutants rescues angiogenic sprouting. Our data suggest that Sema3fb plays a critical role in promoting endothelial sprouting through modulating the VEGF signaling pathway, acting as an autocrine cue that modulates intrinsic growth factor signaling.Author summary To supply tissues with essential oxygen and nutrients, blood vessel development is carefully orchestrated by positive 'go' and negative 'stop' growth signals as well as directional cues to shape patterning. Semaphorin proteins are named after the 'Semaphore' railway signaling system that directed trains along the appropriate tracks. Our work highlights the role of the Semaphorin 3fb protein in providing a pro-growth signal to developing vessels. Semaphorin 3fb is both produced by, and acts on the precursors of blood vessels as they migrate, a process known as autocrine control. We find that losing Semaphorin 3fb leads to stalled blood vessel growth, indicating it normally acts as a positive signal. It acts via modulating the VEGF growth factor signaling pathway that in turn, controls the migration process. We propose that Semaphorin3b fine-tunes vessel growth, thus ensuring a properly patterned network develops.