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Phenotypic heterogeneity is an evolutionarily conserved feature of the endothelium.
- Source :
-
Blood [Blood] 2007 Jan 15; Vol. 109 (2), pp. 613-5. Date of Electronic Publication: 2006 Sep 21. - Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- Mammalian endothelial cells (ECs) display marked phenotypic heterogeneity. Little is known about the evolutionary mechanisms underlying EC heterogeneity. The last common ancestor of hagfish and gnathostomes was also the last common ancestor of all extant vertebrates, which lived some time more than 500 million years ago. Features of ECs that are shared between hagfish and gnathostomes can be inferred to have already been present in this ancestral vertebrate. The goal of this study was to determine whether the hagfish endothelium displays phenotypic heterogeneity. Electron microscopy of the aorta, dermis, heart, and liver revealed ultrastructural heterogeneity of the endothelium. Immunofluorescent studies demonstrated marked differences in lectin binding between vascular beds. Intravital microscopy of the dermis revealed histamine-induced adhesion of leukocytes in capillaries and postcapillary venules, but no such adhesion in arterioles. Together, these data suggest that structural, molecular, and functional heterogeneity of the endothelium evolved as an early feature of this cell lineage.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Aorta ultrastructure
Biological Evolution
Capillaries cytology
Cell Adhesion
Dermis blood supply
Dermis ultrastructure
Heart anatomy & histology
Lectins
Leukocytes cytology
Liver ultrastructure
Phenotype
Staining and Labeling
Venules cytology
Endothelium ultrastructure
Hagfishes physiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0006-4971
- Volume :
- 109
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Blood
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 16990601
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2006-05-026401