Roles of Transcription Factors and Signaling Networks in the Regulation of Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Function

Abstract

The homeobox transcription factor Prox1 is considered as a master regulator for the differentiation and function of lymphatic endothelial cells. To date, we identified Ets family transcription factors as a positive regulator of Prox1 function, and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signal as a Prox1-regulated signal transduction pathway. In addition to them, we report, as a negative regulator of Prox1 expression, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), which is an inducer of endothelial mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in lymphatic endothelial cells, and its underlying molecular mechanism.