DDX24 spatiotemporally orchestrates VEGF and Wnt signaling during developmental angiogenesis

F Fangbin Chen (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University) Z Zhaohua Deng (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University) X Xiaoming Wang Y Yuxuan Liu K Kaichen Zhao (College of Biomedicine and Health, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University) Y Yue Zhang S Simeng He (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University) R Rensen Ran (State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital) Y Yingying Dong (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University) S Shuang Guo (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University) Y Yitong Zhou (Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Photovoltaic Technology and Energy Materials of Inner Mongolia, Centre for Quantum Physics and Technology Research, School of Physical Science and Technology) B Bin Zhou P Pengfei Pang (Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University International Campus of Tianjin University) W Wei Ge (State Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering) C Chang Liu H Hong Shan (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University) H Huanhuan He (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University)

Abstract

Vascular development is a precisely controlled process, yet how it is spatiotemporally orchestrated remains enigmatic. We previously identified DEAD-box RNA helicase 24 (DDX24) as a pathogenic gene for multiorgan vascular anomalies. Here, we show that DDX24 is expressed in the endothelium during embryonic angiogenesis in zebrafish. DDX24 deficiency causes intersegmental vessel hyperbranching in the trunk, but inhibits central artery angiogenesis in the brain. Mechanistically, DDX24 deficiency enhances VEGFR2 expression by direct binding to its mRNA in nonbrain endothelial cells (ECs), while suppressing GPR124/RECK-mediated Wnt signaling in brain ECs. Additionally, spatial transcriptome analysis profiles DDX24-mediated crosstalk between ECs and neighboring cells. Finally, pharmacological targeting of these two pathways in a temporal manner can rescue the phenotypes induced by DDX24 deficiency. Overall, our findings highlight an essential role for DDX24 in the spatiotemporal regulation of developmental angiogenesis.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 19
Published May 13, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (17)

F

Fangbin Chen

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University

Z

Zhaohua Deng

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University

X

Xiaoming Wang

Y

Yuxuan Liu

K

Kaichen Zhao

College of Biomedicine and Health, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University

Y

Yue Zhang

S

Simeng He

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University

R

Rensen Ran

State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital

Y

Yingying Dong

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University

S

Shuang Guo

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University

Y

Yitong Zhou

Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Photovoltaic Technology and Energy Materials of Inner Mongolia, Centre for Quantum Physics and Technology Research, School of Physical Science and Technology

B

Bin Zhou

P

Pengfei Pang

Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University International Campus of Tianjin University

W

Wei Ge

State Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering

C

Chang Liu

H

Hong Shan

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University

H

Huanhuan He

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University