In vivo calcium imaging analyses during angiogenesis and vessel stabilization

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18976
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General physiology
• Research Institution: National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: Nakajima Hiroyuki 国立研究開発法人国立循環器病研究センター, 研究所, 室長 (10467657)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞内カルシウム / 血管新生 / メカニカルストレス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we visualized endothelial Ca2+ dynamics at single-cell resolution in zebrafish and found that endothelial Ca2+ oscillations completely depended upon VEGF-A/VEGFR2 signaling during intersomitic vessel (ISV) formation. Thus, visualizing Ca2+ oscillations allowed us to monitor indirectly how VEGF-A/VEGFR2 signaling is spatio-temporally regulated at single cell level. We also observed blood flow-dependent Ca2+ oscillations in perfused vessels. By analyzing endothelial responses to blood flow, we newly found that YAP, a　final effector of the Hippo pathway, responds to flow-mediated mechanical stimuli.

Free Research Field

血管生物学