Central roles of α5β1 integrin and fibronectin in vascular development in mouse embryos and embryoid bodies

Vascular development and maturation are dependent on the interactions of endothelial cell integrins with surrounding extracellular matrix. Previous investigations of the primacy of certain integrins in vascular development have not addressed whether this could also be a secondary effect due to poor embryonic nutrition. Here, we show that the alpha(5) integrin subunit and fibronectin have critical roles in blood vessel development in mouse embryos and in embryoid bodies (EBs) differentiated from embryonic stem cells (a situation in which there is no nutritional deficit caused by the mutations). In contrast, vascular development in vivo and in vitro is not strongly dependent on alpha(v) or beta(3) integrin subunits. In mouse embryos lacking a, integrin, greatly distended blood vessels are seen in the vitelline yolk sac and in the embryo itself. Additionally, overall blood vessel pattern complexity is reduced in alpha(5)-null tissues. This defective vascular phenotype is correlated with a decrease in the ligand for alpha(5) integrin, fibronectin (FN), in the endothelial basement membranes. A striking and significant reduction in early capillary plexus formation and maturation was apparent in EBs formed from embryonic stem cells lacking alpha(5) integrin or FN compared with wild-type EBs or EBs lacking alpha(v) or beta(3) integrin subunits. Vessel phenotype could be partially restored to FN-null EBs by the addition of whole FN to the culture system. These findings confirm a clear role for alpha(5) and FN in early blood vessel development not dependent on embryo nutrition or alpha(v) or beta(3) integrin subunits. Thus, successful early vasculogenesis and angiogenesis require alpha(5)-FN interactions.