A research team at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel in Switzerland has made significant advances in understanding how blood vessels form, a complex process that delivers nutrients and oxygen throughout the body.

His two recent studies shed light on the mechanisms involved in vascular lumen formation, emphasizing the interplay between proteins and mechanical forces.

Blood vessels form through a process where cells initially form local lumens that eventually merge into a continuous tubular network. The stability of cell junctions is important to prevent leakage and maintain vascular integrity.

In their investigations using the zebrafish model, Professor Markus Affolter’s team focused on the role of the protein Racip1 in this process. Their first study, published in Nature Communications, sheds light on the essential function of Rasip1 at adhesion sites between endothelial cells.

Dr. Jianmin Yin, lead author of the study, explained that Rasip1 facilitates the movement of adhesion proteins, causing the lumen between cells to expand, like inflating a balloon.

In a second study, published in Angiogenesis, researchers explored how contractile forces—controlled by the proteins Heg1 and Ccm1—drive cell interactions essential for proper vessel formation.

Yin stated that these forces must be precisely regulated; Only then can the cells interact correctly to form stable vessels.

The study showed that rhythmic contractions within cellular structures stabilize cell junctions and maintain their shape, which is important for a healthy vascular network.

These findings deepen our understanding of blood vessel development and may pave the way for new therapeutic strategies for vascular diseases such as aneurysms and peripheral artery occlusive disease.

Heinz Georg Belting, who led the second study, commented on the remarkable nature of observing these processes in living organisms and explained how disruptions in force balance or protein misalignment can lead to defective blood vessels.

The research team plans to employ biophysical methods in future studies to further unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying blood vessel formation, potentially leading to novel treatments for vascular disorders.