CRSBP-1/LYVE-1-null mice exhibit identifiable morphological and functional alterations of lymphatic capillary vessels

CRSBP-1, a membrane glycoprotein, can mediate cell-surface retention of secreted growth factors containing CRS motifs such as PDGF-BB. CRSBP-1 has recently been found to be identical to LYVE-I, a specific marker for lymphatic capillary endothelial cells. The in vivo role of CRSBP-1/LYVE-1 is unknown. CRSBP-1-null mice are overtly normal and fertile but exhibit identifiable morphological and functional alterations of lymphatic capillary vessels in certain tissues, marked by the constitutively increased interstitial-lymphatic flow and lack of typical irregularly-shaped lumens. The CRSBP-I ligands DGF-BB and HA enhance interstitial-lymphatic How in wildtype mice but not in CRSBP-1-null animals. (c) 2006 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.