Team Leader
Li-Kun Phng Ph.D.

Laboratory for Vascular Morphogenesis

LocationKobe / Developmental Biology Buildings

E-maillikun.phng[at]riken.jp

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Cellular mechanisms of blood vessel formation and maintenance

The establishment and maintenance of blood vessels is crucial throughout life. During development, blood vessels supply oxygen and nutrients to meet the demands of growing tissues. In the adult, they sustain the metabolic needs of organs to support homeostasis. Furthermore, new blood vessel formation is essential for tissue regeneration.

Our lab is interested in understanding the fundamental morphogenetic principles of how endothelial cells behave and coordinate with each other and the perivascular environment to generate a well-patterned network of blood vessels. Using the zebrafish as a model system, we seek to understand how endothelial cell shape plasticity is regulated to drive vessel formation and remodelling. We also aim to understand endothelial cell mechanoresponse to haemodynamic forces, in the control of vessel morphology. By unravelling the basic mechanisms of how endothelial cells build blood vessels of specific size and network pattern, we aim provide insights into how vascular malformations arise.

Research Theme

How forces regulate endothelial cell shape changes and blood vessel morphogenesis.
Mechanisms controlling actomyosin activity in endothelial cells.
Molecular regulation of blood vessel lumen formation.

Selected Publications

Kondrychyn I, Kelly DJ, Carretero NT, et al.
Marcksl1 modulates endothelial cell mechanoresponse to haemodynamic forces to control blood vessel shape and size.
Nature Communications 11, 5476 Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 JST 2020 doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19308-5

Gebala V, Collins R, Geudens I, et al.
Blood flow drives lumen formation by inverse membrane blebbing during angiogenesis in vivo.
Nature Cell Biology 18(4), 443-451 Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 JST 2016 doi: 10.1038/ncb3320

Phng LK, Gebala V, Bentley K, et al.
Formin-mediated actin polymerization at endothelial junctions is required for vessel lumen formation and stabilization.
Developmental Cell 32, 123-132 Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 JST 2015 doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.11.017

Phng LK, Stanchi F, Gerhardt H.
Filopodia are dispensable for endothelial tip cell guidance.
Development 140, 4031-4040 Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 JST 2013 doi: 10.1242/dev.097352

Phng LK, Potente M, Leslie J D, et al.
Nrarp coordinates endothelial Notch and Wnt signaling to control vessel density in angiogenesis.
Developmental Cell 16, 70-82 Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 JST 2009 doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2008.12.009

Hellström M, Phng LK, Hofmann J H, et al.
Dll4 signalling through Notch1 regulates formation of tip cells during angiogenesis.
Nature 445, 776-770 Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 JST 2007 doi: 10.1038/nature05571