The genetics of vasculogenesis.

To identify genes important to the process of vasculogenesis, we have used a novel meta-analysis approach to evaluate retrospectively the embryonic vascular anomalies observed in over 100 mouse gene knockout studies. Through application of this method, termed Approach for Ranking of Embryonic Vascular Anomalies (AREVA), 12 genes were determined to be critical to vasculogenesis. Importantly, when the 12 genes were considered with respect to VEGF-VEGFR signalling, an integrated network centreing on the ShcA/Ras/Raf/Mek/Erk pathway became apparent. Herein, we discuss how the 12 vasculogenesis-critical genes influence specific stages in the process of vasculogenesis.