%0 Journal Article %J Cell Tissue Res %D 2003 %T Genesis and pathogenesis of lymphatic vessels %A Jeltsch, Michael %A Tammela, Tuomas %A Alitalo, Kari %A Wilting, Jörg %X The lymphatic system is generally regarded as supplementary to the blood vascular system, in that it transports interstitial fluid, macromolecules, and immune cells back into the blood. However, in insects, the open hemolymphatic (or lymphohematic) system ensures the circulation of immune cells and interstitial fluid through the body. The Drosophila homolog of the mammalian vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) gene family is expressed in hemocytes, suggesting a close relationship to the endothelium that develops later in phylogeny. Lymph hearts are typical organs for the propulsion of lymph in lower vertebrates and are still transiently present in birds. The lymphatic endothelial marker VEGFR-3 is transiently expressed in embryonic blood vessels and is crucial for their development. We therefore regard the question of whether the blood vascular system or the lymphatic system is primary or secondary as open. Future molecular comparisons should be performed without any bias based on the current prevalence of the blood vascular system over the lymphatic system. Here, we give an overview of the structure, function, and development of the lymphatics, with special emphasis on the recently discovered lymphangiogenic growth factors. %B Cell Tissue Res %V 314 %P 69 - 84 %8 2003/Oct/ %G eng %U http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12942362 %N 1 %! Cell and Tissue Research %0 Journal Article %J J Biol Chem %D 1997 %T Genomic organization of human and mouse genes for vascular endothelial growth factor C %A Chilov, D %A Kukk, E %A Taira, S %A Jeltsch, M %A Kaukonen, J %A Palotie, A %A Joukov, V %A Alitalo, K %X We report here the cloning and characterization of human and mouse genes for vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), a newly isolated member of the vascular endothelial growth factor/platelet-derived growth factor (VEGF/PDGF) family. Both VEGF-C genes comprise over 40 kilobase pairs of genomic DNA and consist of seven exons, all containing coding sequences. The VEGF homology domain of VEGF-C is encoded by exons 3 and 4. Exons 5 and 7 encode cysteine-rich motifs of the type C6C10CRC, and exon 6 encodes additional C10CXCXC motifs typical of a silk protein. A putative alternatively spliced rare RNA form lacking exon 4 was identified in human fibrosarcoma cells, and a major transcription start site was located in the human VEGF-C gene 523 base pairs upstream of the translation initiation codon. The upstream promoter sequences contain conserved putative binding sites for Sp-1, AP-2, and NF-kappaB transcription factors but no TATA box, and they show promoter activity when transfected into cells. The VEGF-C gene structure is thus assembled from exons encoding propeptides and distinct cysteine-rich domains in addition to the VEGF homology domain, and it shows both similarities and distinct differences in comparison with other members of the VEGF/PDGF gene family. %B J Biol Chem %V 272 %P 25176 - 83 %8 1997/Oct/ %G eng %U http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9312130 %N 40 %! The Journal of Biological Chemistry