Notch signaling in blood vessels: who is talking to whom about what?

It has become increasingly clear that the Notch signaling pathway plays a critical role in the development and homeostasis of the cardiovascular system. This notion has emerged from loss- and gain-of-function analysis and from the realization that several hereditary cardiovascular disorders originate from gene mutations that have a direct impact on Notch signaling. Current research efforts are focused on determining the specific cellular and molecular effects of Notch signaling. The rationale for this has stemmed from the clinical importance and therapeutic potential of modulating vascular formation during various disease states. A more complete appreciation of Notch signaling, as it relates to vascular morphogenesis, requires an in-depth knowledge of expression patterns of the various signaling components and a comprehensive understanding of downstream targets. The goal of this review is to summarize current knowledge regarding Notch signaling during vascular development and within the adult vascular wall. Our focus is on the genetic analysis and cellular experiments that have been performed with Notch ligands, receptors, and downstream targets. We also highlight questions and controversies regarding the contribution of this pathway to vascular development.