Annexin A3 is necessary for parallel artery‐vein alignment in the mouse retina

Background Annexin A3 (Anxa3) is a member of the calcium‐regulated, cell membrane‐binding family of annexin proteins. We previously confirmed that Anxa3 is expressed in the endothelial lineage in vertebrates and that loss of anxa3 in Xenopus laevis leads to embryonic blood vessel defects. However, t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental dynamics 2020-05, Vol.249 (5), p.666-678
Main Authors: Huang, Katie, Crist, Angela M., Patel, Nehal R., Blanks, Avery, Carter, Kelsey, Cleaver, Ondine, Meadows, Stryder M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alignment
annexin
artery
Blood vessels
Calcium
Cell membranes
Crossovers
development
Embryos
Endothelial cells
Mammals
Misalignment
mouse
Occlusion
patterning
Retina
vascular
vein
Veins
Veins & arteries
Vertebrates
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Summary:Background Annexin A3 (Anxa3) is a member of the calcium‐regulated, cell membrane‐binding family of annexin proteins. We previously confirmed that Anxa3 is expressed in the endothelial lineage in vertebrates and that loss of anxa3 in Xenopus laevis leads to embryonic blood vessel defects. However, the biological function of Anxa3 in mammals is completely unknown. In order to investigate Anxa3 vascular function in mammals, we generated an endothelial cell‐specific Anxa3 conditional knockout mouse model (Anxa3f/f;Tie2‐Cre). Results Anxa3f/f;Tie2‐Cre mice are born at Mendelian ratios and display morphologically normal blood vessels during development. However, loss of Anxa3 leads to artery‐vein (AV) misalignment characterized by atypical AV crossovers in the postnatal and adult retina. Conclusions Anxa3 is not essential for embryonic blood vessel formation but is required for proper parallel AV alignment in the murine retina. AV crossovers associated with Anxa3f/f;Tie2‐Cre mice are similar to AV intersections observed in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), although we did not observe occluded vessels. This new Anxa3 mouse model may provide a basis for understanding AV crossover formation associated with BRVO. Key Findings Loss of Anxa3 specifically in the endothelial lineage results in retinal artery‐vein misalignment. Anxa3 mutant mice display artery‐vein crossovers in the retina, similar to BRVO patients. Anxa3 is not necessary for embryonic vascular development.
ISSN:1058-8388
1097-0177
DOI:10.1002/dvdy.154