Expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, Flk1 and Flt1, in rat skin mast cells during development

• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.20-0092
• Publication Date: 2020-04-21T22:04:27Z
• Authors: Miki KOH; Syunya NOGUCHI; Mami ARAKI; Hirotada OTSUKA; Makoto YOKOSUKA; Satoshi SOETA
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; Embryonic Development; Cell Differentiation; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; 03 medical and health sciences; Animals, Newborn; Animals; Female; Mast Cells; Anatomy; Rats, Wistar; Skin

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is a principal regulator of hematopoiesis as well as angiogenesis. However, the functions of VEGF-A and its receptors (VEGFRs) in the differentiation of mast cells (MCs) in the skin remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the expression patterns of two VEGFRs (Flk1 and Flt1) in the skin MCs during development and maturation in rats. From the 17th days of embryonic development (E17) to 1 day after birth (Day 1), most of skin MCs were immature cells containing predominant alcian blue (AB)+ rather than safranin O (SO)+ granules (AB>SO MCs). AB>SO MC proportions gradually decreased, while mature ABSO MCs had significantly decreased, and AB<SO MC proportions significantly increased. Considering that the main function of Flt1 is suppression of Flk1 effects, our results indicated that cross-talk between Flk1 and Flt1 regulates the proliferation and maturation of the skin MCs during late embryonic and neonatal development in rats.