A murine model of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
Annie Bourdeau, Daniel J. Dumont, Michelle Letarte
Annie Bourdeau, Daniel J. Dumont, Michelle Letarte
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A murine model of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Abstract

Endoglin (CD105), an accessory protein of the TGF-β receptor superfamily, is highly expressed on endothelial cells. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 1 (HHT1) is associated with mutations in the Endoglin gene, leading to haploinsufficiency. To generate a disease model and ascertain the role of endoglin in development, we generated mice lacking 1 or both copies of the gene. Endoglin null embryos die at gestational day 10.0–10.5 due to defects in vessel and heart development. Vessel formation appears normal until hemorrhage occurs in yolk sacs and embryos. The primitive vascular plexus of the yolk sac fails to mature into defined vessels, and vascular channels dilate and rupture. Internal bleeding is seen in the peritoneal cavity, implying fragile vessels. Heart development is arrested at day 9.0, and the atrioventricular canal endocardium fails to undergo mesenchymal transformation and cushion-tissue formation. These data suggest that endoglin is critical for both angiogenesis and heart valve formation. Some heterozygotes, either with an inbred 129/Ola or mixed C57BL/6-129/Ola background, show signs of HHT, such as telangiectases or recurrent nosebleeds. In this murine model of HHT, it appears that epigenetic factors and modifier genes, some of which are present in 129/Ola, contribute to disease heterogeneity.

Authors

Annie Bourdeau, Daniel J. Dumont, Michelle Letarte

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Heart deficiency in End–/– mice. Transverse sections from whole-mount em...
Heart deficiency in End–/– mice. Transverse sections from whole-mount embryos stained for β-gal activity are shown. The E9.0 End+/– embryo shows staining associated with the endocardium in the ventricular compartment (v) and tightly delineated in the atrioventricular region (av). The endocardium of the End–/– embryo is rudimentary, with an abnormally large lumen in the common atrial chamber (a) and the bulbus cordis (b). At E9.5 increased trabeculation is observed in the ventricle of the End+/– embryo; a few β-gal–stained mesenchymal cells (arrowhead) are seen adjacent to the atrioventricular canal. The heart of the End–/– embryo is much larger than that of the control and is devoid of trabeculae; mesenchymal cells are absent. At E10.5 cushion-tissue mesenchyme (arrowhead) from the End+/– embryo stains strongly positive for β-gal; in contrast, the heart of the End–/– embryo shows edema and signs of necrosis. Bar: 100 μm.